20.03.07
Central Food Production Unit welcomed by Objective One Partnership
The announcement by the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust that
work on a Central Food Production Unit has begun is welcomed
by the Objective One Partnership.
The CFPU has received approval for £983,627 from the
Objective One EAGGF (European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee
Fund) as well as a matching amount from Defra. It is part
of millions of pounds of Objective One investment that is
being used to support the local produce industry across Cornwall
and the Isles of Scilly.
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Objective One Partnership,
said: "Agriculture, fishing and other local produce
are a major part of this region's identity and must
be supported and developed. Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
is well known for its top quality local produce and Objective
One has invested in a variety of initiatives to ensure this
industry stays ahead of the game."
Investment has supported local producers in several ways
including:
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Product development and research – for instance,
when the Objective One programme began there were ten
quality Cornish cheeses. Now there are 60. |
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Marketing – value is added to products via promotion
at events, new websites and packaging. |
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Capital investment - Objective One investment has supported
producers including WC Rowe (bakers) and Rodda's Creamery
(famous for its clotted cream) expand and buy state of
the art equipment. |
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Building the supply chain - Objective One projects such
as Fifteen Cornwall, the restaurant that trains disadvantaged
young people to be chefs, aims to source about 80% of
its produce locally. |
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The Eden Project is also promoting selected producers
by adding its own label to certain brands and ensuring
the supply chain from those brands (for instance the ingredients
for Sharps Eden Ale) is sourced locally. |
These initiatives help to reduce food miles and to give the
farmers, fishermen and food producers healthy order books
all year round, rather than just in the peak tourist season.
Most importantly it means that the delicious, fresh food and
drink on offer is gaining a high profile.
A prime example of this investment use is the groundbreaking
Agri-Food Innovation Centre being built at Duchy College,
Stoke Climsland. The centre, costing about £5 million,
has received £1,173,905 of Objective One EAGGF (European
Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund) investment with
a matching amount from Defra. The project is led by Cornwall
College, a key partner in the Combined Universities in Cornwall
and is already attracting interest from major companies in
the food industry. The centre will not only offer courses
but will be open to those in the food industry who will be
able to take advantage of conference and research facilities.
David Rodda, Cornwall Agricultural Council spokesman, said:
"Throughout the Objective One programme we have been
working with the food industry to increase the range and amount
of local produce used in the recipies for the wide variety
of food produced in Cornwall. Purchases by the public sector
are an important market opportunity for the farming sector
and the investment in the CFPU is the culmination of a partnership
between the food industry and the NHS. We look forward to
continuing to work with them in the future so that we can
continue to increase purchasing levels."
Other Objective One investment has been ploughed into the
produce industry via gateway funds such as Taste of the West
Cornwall, Organic South West and Business Link. Accommodation
providers in Newquay have been encouraged to source local
produce through workshops set up by the highly successful
HONEY project, which offered advice and investment to hotel
and guest house owners.
Davidstow Creamery is now the largest cheddar cheese producing
plant in Europe. The expansion at the plant received £5.1
million of Objective One EAGGF, again with the same amount
from Defra, and is on track to purchase over 300 million litres
of milk from Cornwall in the next few years, which will increase
the number of producers required to well over 300.
On a smaller scale, Lynher Dairies Cheese Company has grown
from two dairy farms (whose owners set Lynher up together)
to a hugely successful producer of Yarg cheese, which is sourced
by major retailers including Waitrose and Neal's Yard.
Objective One was used for the environmentally friendly building
and for equipment.
Ms Kelemen added: "Objective One is being used
effectively to help Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly earn
a reputation for high end, distinctive produce."
For further information contact Clare Morgan, Media Relations
Manager for the Objective One Partnership Office on 01872
223439 or email cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk.
The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the
Isles of Scilly has invested in the Cornwall Food Production
Unit through the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee
fund (EAGGF).
Editor's notes:
Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439
cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk
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