Defra Secretary of State Andrea Leadsom launched the Food Innovation Network (FIN) in Yorkshire this week.
FIN has been set up to tackle the problems of joining up and accessing the right information, research, skills, expertise and funding mechanisms – problems Ms Leadsom said are impeding innovation in UK agri-food and drink.
From prolonging shelf life to developing new sources of protein, more than 6,000 British food and drink companies can now take advantage of new technologies and expert advice at the touch of a button, helping revolutionise the production of their food.
Ambitious entrepreneurs will have unparalleled access to first-class facilities, said Ms Leadsom, such as test kitchens and laboratories to help them launch new products onto the market. Businesses will be able to tap into expert online advice on complex issues such as intellectual property and developing new technology. A network coordinator will be appointed to act as a ‘matchmaker’, joining up businesses with the expertise they need for any aspect of their business – from new packaging to waste management.
NFU chief science and regulatory affairs adviser, Helen Ferrier, said: “This new network will build on the existing infrastructure for R&D knowledge exchange. The goal is to join up the supply chain from scientific research right through to the final product and it should make it easier for farmers to connect with scientific experts that can help address specific issues.
“This dialogue is essential to help ensure research is undertaken with practical applications in mind and should help encourage more on-farm take up of the latest techniques and practices.”