New Strategy to Encourage Innovation in UK Food And Farming

23 July 2013 --- Food and Drink Federation's Sustainability Director Andrew Kuyk attended today's launch by BIS Science Minister David Willetts and Defra's Lord De Mauley of a new Government Agricultural Technologies strategy aimed at promoting growth in UK food and farming as part of its wider Industrial Strategy and to meet the future challenges of food security and climate change.

The Strategy seeks to build on the existing research and science base to increase productivity and develop new products and techniques which will help deliver more sustainable, healthier and affordable food, for the benefit of our own economy and to meet increasing global demand, including in developing countries.

There are major opportunities for the UK to become a world leader in food and farming technology and innovation, producing more, from less and in a more sustainable way.

The Agri-Tech Strategy will be overseen by a Leadership Council of industry experts, which includes senior figures from the food manufacturing sector, FDF members Martin Douglas of Cargill Plc and Ian Noble from PepsiCo UK and Ireland.

Commenting on the launch, Andrew Kuyk said: "Food and drink is the UK's largest manufacturing sector and we fully support this recognition of the role which innovation and technology can play in our industry's shared vision with Government to achieve 20% growth by 2020."

"Our sector purchases two thirds of UK agricultural produce and we believe there is real potential for sustainable increases in production here as well as export opportunities for world leading UK products, technologies and services in the future to help meet the wider global challenges of producing more, from less and with less environmental impact. We particularly welcome the inclusion of food manufacturing experts on the Strategy's Leadership Council, as it is only by taking a whole chain approach that we will achieve the economic benefits that our scientific capabilities can deliver."