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
On 2nd and 3rd July 2019, Fera hosted an inaugural event on chemical safety
entitled 'Advances in Environmental Risk Assessments symposium', which
invites members of the PPP industry to come together and discuss how to
develop new solutions that will support an increase in agricultural
outputs.
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.
Post-market monitoring and environmental stewardship are essential in the lifecycle of any regulated agrochemical product. It’s important that you have strategies in place to monitor the safety of your products over the long term, along with action plans to minimise risks.
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Bees provide a host of ecosystem services; most importantly they are key pollinators of agricultural crops and wild plants. In addition to this honey bees also provide products such as honey, wax, pollen, propolis, royal jelly and venom.
From standard laboratory studies to bespoke higher tier studies to
address specific risk assessment needs, our experts at Fera are
perfectly placed to meet any data requirements to help our partners
develop products that are safe for bees and other pollinators.
Selwyn’s role at Fera is Senior Bee Ecotoxicologist. He is responsible for the delivery of bee-related work and the development and expansion of the business and science capabilities within the team. He has expanded from working solely with honey bees into new areas such as working with non-Apis species (Bombus spp. and solitary bees e.g. Osmia bicornis).
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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Patulin is a mycotoxin produced by fungi including Penicillium, Aspergillus and Byssochlamys species and occurs mainly in apples spoiled by mould growth, or in products made from spoiled apples. However, patulin has also been found in other fruits, including pears and grapes and occasionally in vegetables and in cereal grains and cheese.
Susan is Science Lead for the areas of mycotoxins and natural toxins. In addition she is Head of the UK National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for Mycotoxins (& oversees the NRLs for a range of other Contaminants).
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.
As a quick and accurate alternative to traditional methods of surveying, during the breeding season we offer environmental DNA (eDNA) testing for the presence of great crested newts in pond water. The eDNA Service is based on the recommended protocol by Natural England, and pond samples can be taken during the newt breeding season from the 15th April until the 30th of June.
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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Our crop testing and molecular facilities deliver expert diagnostics on a
range of plant issues from all over the world.
We can identify plant pests and pathogens found in arable crops,
vegetables, trees, ornamental plants, protected edibles, seeds, soft
fruit, turf and water. 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.
Plant Health Consultant
Charles has spent the past 20 years identifying fungal plant diseases both indigenous and alien to the UK. He leads Fera’s work on citizen science developing capability and capacity in stakeholders, NGOs and members of the public about plant health and biosecurity.
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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We are delighted to announce that our new Fapas brochure is now available to download at www.fapas.com.
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?
Read about our science
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.
Aquatic Ecotoxicologist
Karen is an aquatic biologist based in the Ecotoxicology group at Fera.
Her role is to deliver high-quality aquatic ecotoxicology studies and
she has over 20 years practical experience of working with aquatic
organisms in an ecotoxicological setting.
Countryfile Live is setting up home in the stunning grounds of Castle Howard from 15th to 18th August 2019, so be sure to visit Fera's experts on stand J025 to learn about our vast range of services.
We will give you an insight into our range of work including Big Soil Community, Nematology testing, Bee Ecotoxicology and Food Authenticity.
The Scientific Advisory Committees advise on the development of policy issues that have major implications for public health and ensure that policy decisions are based on the most up-to-date science and evidence. The committees consist of a multidisciplinary team of distinguished experts with outstanding international reputations to ensure that the right science is being used, from the right sources, and that every scientific dimension is being looked at.
The Chair of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Heather Hancock has announced the appointment of 35 independent members to the FSA’s Scientific Advisory Committees and including within this are a number of leading scientists from Fera Science.
"Original Thinking...Applied"
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Registered Office: 30 Berners Street, London, W1T 3LR. Registered in England & Wales, No 9413107. Fera
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