Food, Farming and Fisheries

Sustainable Farming and Food

Working with the English Farming and Food Partnership (EFFP), One NorthEast is the main funder of two collaborative Business Advisor posts based in the region. They will bring together farmers, processors and retailers to identify opportunities for collaborative supply chain solutions and create commercial benefit.

The first of these advisers, Sue Scott, is now out and about in the region. Click here for more information on her work and to contact Sue.

The agency is also a major partner in the region’s Sustainable Farming and Food Partnership, which is overseeing delivery of the Government’s strategy for sustainable farming and food (SFFS) in the region.  Details can be found at the bottom of this page. 

Regional Food

The North East’s Regional Economic Strategy identifies Food and Drink as one of nine priority business sectors, of which farming and regionally-produced food and drink are important parts as employers, suppliers and promoters.

In November 2006 One NorthEast launched the North East Strategy for Regionally Produced Food and Drink. This highlights the challenge for our regional food and drink economy which is under-performing when compared to other regions.

It recommends a range of priorities, actions and delivery partners to develop new and existing market opportunities, raising the economic contribution of food and drink produced within this region from 4% to 6% - in line with the national average.

As part of that strategy a £2m, 4 year contract has been awarded to a new consortium (made up of Northumbria Larder, the North East Chamber of Commerce and Improve - the Sector Skills Council for Food and Drink Manufacturing and Processing across the UK).

The group will be responsible for:

• Helping businesses to increase consumer awareness and the availability of a wide range of quality regional and local produce
• Delivering significant growth in regionally produced food and drink sales.
• Engaging with 200 related businesses and organisations
• Helping to create over 250 new jobs and overseeing training and development activity so that 900 employees in the sector gain enhanced skills.

Fishing

Anglo Scottish Fisheries Industry Group Training Association (ASFIGTA) has been awarded three years of funding from One NorthEast to deliver skills training to the fisheries and sea food industries. Based in North Shields, the Seafood Training Centre North East will provide a focal point for developing skills in the region’s fishing and sea food industries, helping to tackle the recognised skills gaps and shortages and raising the industry’s profile.

It will target businesses and individuals across North East England as well as other regions, as a result of additional European funding being secured from the Marine and Fisheries Agency.  

For more information about what One NorthEast is doing to support regional food and farming please read our Farming and Food Newsletter.

SFFS documents

Click here to view the Sustainable Farming and Food website. 
Click here to view DEFRA’s national SFFS strategy. 
Click here to view DEFRA's Forward Look Strategy.

Useful links

English Farming and Food Partnership (EFFP)
www.seafoodtrainingcentre.co.uk
www.northumbria-larder.co.uk
www.necc.co.uk
www.improveltd.co.uk
www.nesffs.com