Norfolk and Suffolk, located in eastern England, are significant agricultural regions. However, a major challenge faced by these areas is that most of the produce is sent outside the region for processing. To address this issue and boost the rate of local food and drink processing, the Norwich Broadland Food Innovation Centre has launched a new project just outside Norwich.
According to Clarke Willis, Director of the Food Enterprise Park, the key is to keep the processing within the region. He emphasizes the importance of connecting what farmers grow with their end markets and attracting more businesses to the area to facilitate regional growth.
One of the key advantages of the region, as noted by Willis, is the presence of top-tier research organizations such as the John Innes Centre, the Quadram Institute, the Sainsbury Laboratory, and the University of East Anglia. These institutions have world-leading expertise in plant science, food nutrition, gut health, healthy aging, and climate change.
Despite these research capabilities, the current exporting process for goods from the region is hindering progress. The Broadland Food Innovation Centre aims to change this by creating the necessary infrastructure. Developed by the Broadland District Council, the centre offers 13 food production units, test kitchens, a sensory kitchen, and meeting rooms.
Willis believes that the food industry has a responsibility to offer healthy and nutritional food options. He stresses the detrimental effects of highly processed food with zero nutritional value and emphasizes the potential of Norfolk and Suffolk to establish a supply chain for producing healthy food.
Norfolk and Suffolk contribute 11% of the UK’s agricultural output, including 17% of its fruit and vegetables. However, most of this produce is processed outside the region. The current supply chain needs to be reevaluated to ensure local processing and connect farmers directly with their end markets. To achieve this, more businesses need to be attracted to the region and support companies in their growth.
Notable innovations from the region’s top research organizations include Fischer Farms, which is establishing the world’s largest vertical farm with 25,000 square meters of stacked growing space. Additionally, there are innovative spin-out companies focusing on alternative proteins and leveraging the region’s crops and expertise to create plant-based foods that are both sustainable and healthy.
The Government has recognized the region’s potential and has designated Norfolk and Suffolk as a ‘high potential opportunity’ in plant science for nutrition. This status aims to promote the region on a global scale, attracting investment to support the production of healthy and nutritious food.
The Broadland Food Innovation Centre, which opened in September 2022, aims to be a dynamic space that supports innovative projects and ensures their sustainable success. It offers fully-funded innovation support for food and drink businesses, as well as a business leaders’ cluster for networking and mutual support.
This cluster, led by the University of East Anglia, includes the Plant-Based Protein Innovation Platform focused on expanding plant-based protein production within the region’s supply chain. The platform encourages collaboration and commitment among all organizations involved in the supply chain and explores trends, innovation, funding opportunities, market viability, and nutrition.
To tackle the challenge of promoting healthier eating habits among their customers, farmers, agri-tech companies, food and drink producers, and retailers must work together. By leveraging the scientific and research expertise within the region, significant progress can be made in this area.
