Globally recognised provider of proficiency tests, running over 400 tests annually across an extensive range of matrices and analytes
A single sample taken by an ecologist at any time during the newt breeding season can determine their presence or absence, saving you time and money
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years of science
R&D projects
active partnerships
samples per year
We care about the world and the environment. We’re driven by a need to address important global issues such as sustainably feeding a growing population and security challenges. That’s why we use our original thinking and innovation in developing early stage detection to solve the big issues facing the agri-food industry.
Fera has the scientific and regulatory expertise to provide consultancy services to help you with every step of the regulatory framework process. Our experience derives from working in government, industry, contract research organisations and in regulatory consultancies. We have well-established working relationships with many competent authorities, which means we can support you to achieve product registrations effectively and efficiently.
Fera offers a wide range of standardised laboratory studies, aged residue tests as well as more complex higher tier studies under extended laboratory, glasshouse, semi-field and field conditions with standard or bespoke designs.
By understanding how chemical products are transformed, distributed and taken up by organisms in the natural environment, we can provide the data required for environmental risk assessments – ensuring you meet all regulatory requirements in the development of safe plant-protection and veterinary products.
Work with a partner with more than 20 years of experience in a wide range of study types on water quality and aquatic life. Accessing our new state-of-the-art facilities, purpose-built, high spec aquatic facility.
Recent updates to the EU regulations for biocide products (2017/2100) and plant protection products (2018/605) now require products to be labelled as endocrine disruptors, if they have a demonstrated adverse effect in an individual or its offspring which is a consequence of an endocrine mode of action.
Fera offers a comprehensive range of dietary exposure testing services that includes primary plant metabolism and rotational crop studies, performed in dedicated environmentally controlled facilities.
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Plan ahead for the recently approved Guidance on Aged Sorption as a higher tier option for groundwater assessment in the EU. A useful refinement option for pesticides and metabolites that currently fail the groundwater assessment. Click below to view the Guidance document on aged sorption.
Rachel has extensive knowledge and experience of chemical risk assessment, whole effluent assessment, endocrine disruption in aquatic wildlife, the Water Framework Directive and environmental impact assessments. At Fera, she is responsible for conducting research and managing projects regarding aquatic environmental protection, including studies that are conducted to OECD guidelines. She is also a GLP study director.
With a large range of testing abilities, our multi-disciplinary approach gives an overall view of any food issue you may be facing, providing you with the complete information you need to make the strong decisions needed to address these issues.
You can now order your routine Food Tests online, making it simpler for you to work with us and meet your future food testing challenges.
Fera offer extensive authenticity analysis capabilities across a range of samples, such as our extensive Manuka honey testing ability, where we can highlight the presence of Manuka’s active ingredients within one ‘Quad Test’.
At Fera our experts can develop and carry out a standard microbiological testing method to assess the bacterial content of food and beverage products as well as feed products to determine their use by date as well as associated hygiene or product practices.
OriGen helps you to quickly trace the cause of contamination and avoid expensive and damaging product recalls. As supply chains expand across the globe and become ever more complex, quality control systems are coming under increasing strain, and the number of product recalls is growing.
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Fera has a comprehensive range of analytical, authenticity, fraud prevention and knowledge management services to support the fish and aquaculture industry. Helping to ensure quality and safety in this growing industry.
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Emma is an analytical chemist by training and currently leads a team of 120 scientists working on food integrity and safety. She has more than 18 years of experience in the analysis of chemical contaminants in foods and specifically chemical migration from food contact materials and articles.
Fera offers a suite of crop health services, resources, testing facilities and expertise to help farmers, growers and the food industry to improve yields, reduce costs and develop sustainable solutions.
You can now order your routine Crop Tests online, making it simpler for you to work with us and meet your future crop testing challenges.
Fera's Plant Clinic is the largest in the UK. Our crop testing and molecular facilities deliver expert diagnostics on a range of plant issues from all over the world. We have extensive expertise in the fields of bacterial, fungal, viral, insect and nematode identification.
The virology diagnostics team at Fera utilises a range of tests, including ELISA, and molecular methods such as PCR and next generation sequencing, to both detect and identify a range of plant affecting viruses, viroids and phytoplasmas.
The Fera insect monitoring service helps growers to target insecticide applications more accurately to reduce costs and waste, optimise resources and improve yields.
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As the largest Plant Clinic in the UK, our work supports healthy plants and crops and ensures your continued growth. We're experts in identifying pests and diseases, enabling you to make in-field decisions and taking action to minimise yield loss and maximise margins. We also have a UKAS accredited nematology testing facility for PCN and free-living nematodes as well as the facility to test for pests and diseases of bees and mites in relation to food storage.
Senior Plant Virologist
Adrian is the Senior Plant Virologist at Fera. As lead virologist, his role is to deliver a high-quality virology diagnostic service to a wide range of UK and overseas government and commercial clients.
Established in 1990, Fapas is a globally recognised provider of proficiency tests, running over 400 tests annually across an extensive range of matrices and analytes for the food and water, environmental chemistry and microbiology sectors.
Proficiency testing is an essential part of laboratory quality procedure and participation is a mandatory requirement of ISO 17025 accreditation. Fapas proficiency testing provides an independent assessment of your laboratory performance and compares your results to laboratories worldwide.
Surplus test materials from the batch used for the PT may be available for purchase as quality control (QC) samples. These QC samples may be used for troubleshooting poor performance in the PT, training of new staff, method development or generating QC charts.
Reference Materials (RMs) are also available from Fapas for some analyte/matrix combinations. RMs have a much higher degree of characterisation than PT or QC materials with a defined chain of traceability
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Proficiency testing (PT) is an independent check of your laboratory procedures that provides you with a completely confidential assessment of your capability. Have you booked your PTs yet for 2021?
Scientific Advisor to Fapas
Mark’s principal role is to provide expert advice on all aspects of Fapas proficiency tests and to investigate difficult datasets and their underlying scientific problems. Mark is also responsible for new product development in proficiency testing and developing bespoke schemes.
Translating research into real-world solutions across the agri-food supply chain
We live in a changing world, one that faces global challenges such as climate change, increasing globalisation and population growth. In turn, these all affect our food security. Learn how we are meeting these challenges within our Science Strategy.
As an organisation our focus is translating research into evidence and science-based products and services. As we move forward, we encourage an approach that is more entrepreneurial, internationally-focused and integrated into cross-cutting, interdisciplinary programmes that are underpinned by our strategic partnerships and driven by the needs of our customers.
The aim of the partnership is to deliver innovation in research across the agri-food supply chain, and provide sustainable solutions to problems facing Fera’s diverse customer base in both the agricultural and food sectors. The Institute for Agri-Food Research and Innovation (IAFRI) is a joint venture between Newcastle University and Fera Science Ltd (Fera).
We are no ordinary people. We are original thinkers and problem solvers. Are you part of our solution?
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Fera attend, exhibit and host a broad array of international events
that explore the full scope of our scientific expertise and allow us to
engage with our industry, academic and government stakeholders.
Phil Jennings has over 25 years of experience in fungal plant pathology,
especially epidemiology, disease control, experimental/field trial
designs and investigative research approaches.
If you haven’t yet booked your eDNA testing kits, now is the time! The great crested newts breeding season occurs March – June, so make sure you know which of your projects could benefit from the speed and accuracy of the eDNA approach to detect the presence/absence of newts.
eDNA testing is a rapid and effective way to identify whether your pond or stream is home to the European protected great crested newt. Our quality assurance and experience make us the partner of choice for ecologists needing accurate and timely results. Find Out More here
Laboratories carrying out analysis for export purposes can compare their performance in internationally recognised schemes and demonstrate competence in analysis if their results are challenged by analysis carried out in the receiving territory.
Participating in international PT programmes such as Fapas® can bring significant benefits to laboratories, due to the fact they are offered to a wider range of participants and typically attract more laboratories to take part. This ensures robust data sets most of the time, from laboratories who are typically employing internationally recognised methods, and often internationally standardised methods.
Fapas | Proficiency Testing From Fera
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