麻豆社

Join us for an insightful discussion about the future of tea and how sustainability is shaping the industry. As climate change continues to affect the planet, the tea industry is at a crossroads—facing big challenges, but also exciting opportunities to make a real difference.

We'll dive into the connection between tea production and the environment.

You'll hear from brands that are leading the charge in making tea production more eco-friendly, whether it’s through improved harvesting practices or more efficient use of nutrients. You will hear from our Cranfield researchers who have been supporting advances in the tea industry for the past 30 years, including a new five-year Prosperity Partnership project with Lipton Teas and Infusions.

Join us in person on campus to take part in a tea tasting session with Tea Industry Expert Khursh Bharucha, where you can learn more about Britain’s national drink.

If you care about where your tea comes from and how we can all play a part in protecting the planet, this event is for you!

Speakers

Dr Rosina Watson (Host)

Head of Sustainable Business Group and Associate Professor of Sustainability, 麻豆社

Rosina’s research centres on sustainable innovation, both in large corporate organizations and by entrepreneurs, with a focus on how partnerships and collaboration can enhance sustainable innovation. She directs a specialist Sustainability MSc (available as a master’s level apprenticeship) as well as leading teaching on sustainability on general management courses, including the MBA and Executive MBA.

Professor Paul Burgess (Chair)

Professor of Sustainable Agriculture and Agroforestry, 麻豆社

Paul is an expert in Agrifood Systems, Energy and the Environment, Natural Capital, Soil, and Sustainable Land Systems. He has undertaken research and consultancy globally, focusing on agroforestry, bio-economic models, and sustainable agriculture. Paul has led numerous projects, contributed to policy development, authored numerous papers and books. His current research focusses on focuses on the improvement of regenerative agricultural systems including agroforestry, tree crops, conservation tillage, and grassland management.

Kurush Bharucha 

Tea Industry Expert

Kurush has spent the past 39 years of his professional life in Tea, all with Unilever/Lipton. His experience has covered various Tea Industry facets - specialist tea taster, buyer and blender, trainer and educator, product innovator and developer, sommelier and storyteller. His rich ingredient-knowledge and product (and 'palate') expertise spans multiple origins, across the main tea growing countries in Asia, Africa and South America. And his cross-functional roles have been in Supply Chain, Quality, Procurement, Tea Plantations, and R&D - having spent 19 years in India, 8 years in Dubai and 12 years in the UK.

His most recent role was as Lipton's 'Global Tea Expertise Director', at its Global Innovation Centre in Bedfordshire - in the service of the Company's blends (Lipton, PG Tips, Pukka, Tazo and T2...). This required a crop-to-cup understanding and delivery - against innovation design and deploy, brand inspiration and partnering, Tea estate operations, as also playing the role of a 'Tea Ambassador' - by championing a tea culture, instilling belief, infusing passion and building Tea capability across the business.

Kurush recalls his joiner years (starting from 1985) in India, where he would often be required to taste upto 1000 cups of tea each day! (following the mantra - 'Practice makes perfect - so Perfect your practice). His final stint saw him as the Company's Tea Standards lead - a Quality 'ombudsman' - overseeing a global cadre group of 80 tea tasters.

Given his global Tea footprint, Kurush has spoken at Industry conventions, and been part of jury panels adjudicating Tea quality competitions in India, the Middle East and the UK. More recently, he is with the UK Tea Academy - both as Tutor at its Origin Masterclass, as also on the judging panel of its annual International Tea Awards Competition ('The Leafies')

And, by a strange quirk of serendipiTEA, his family name (Bharucha) even ends in CHA :-)

Who should attend?

This is an open event to 麻豆社 staff and students and business and sustainability enthusiasts alike.

How to register 

Attend in person

Attend online