06.02.04
Second phase of investment help for rural economy

The team that has helped direct nearly £20 million of European investment into the agriculture, horticulture, food and land based industry sectors in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is to continue its work for another three years.

The Cornwall Agricultural Council Development Team was set up in November 2000 and has since helped to enable nearly 50 Objective One projects for farmers and rural businesses – which will between them result in a total of around £82 million being invested into the region's land-based industries.

Now, approval has been given to extend the team's work for a second phase – during which time a similar amount of investment should be injected into the rural economy of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

David Rodda, who leads the team as senior agricultural co-ordinator, said that over the past three years the team has provided initial guidance to more than 750 potential projects, as well as in-depth support to around 90 schemes.

He said: "This has led to the 48 projects that we have taken forward, which have between them been approved for a total of £19.5 million in Objective One investment from the European Agricultural Guidance & Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), matched by equal investment from the Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), which is then in turn matched by private sector investment

"Many of these are projects that will themselves run for several years so the impact of this investment is only now starting to become apparent. However, we expect these projects to deliver major benefits for the sector over the next few years.”

The £19.5 million of Objective One investment delivered as a result of the team's efforts represents nearly three-quarters of the share of European money earmarked for the agricultural sector for the period.

Now, following the announcement that the team has got the go-ahead for a second phase, the next three years should see the industry being given another, equally large boost.

He said: "As of this January, half of the European investment allocated through Objective One for the agricultural sector still remains. That remaining available investment will again be matched by Defra and we continue to look for good, imaginative but realistic projects to take forward.

"Our current list of projects under development ranges from schemes for barn conversions to food processing and industrial crop production but there is still a considerable scope for new schemes.”

Between now and the end of 2006, the Cornwall Agricultural Council Development Team has a target of providing initial guidance to 500 farmers and rural businesses and providing in-depth support to 110 schemes.

David added: "The work of our team has changed greatly over the last few years as the sector has had to face the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, foot and mouth, and a continuing fall in farm incomes.

"The challenge is to help ensure the industry is in a position to face these threats and to seize opportunities like new markets, adding value, training and diversification.”

He added: "Some people still have a presumption that Objective One cannot help them but the scale and range of what has been achieved over the past few years shows otherwise. There is still substantial investment to be had.

"In addition, the announcement of our second phase means that the development team will continue to be here to help take projects from the ideas stage and off the drawing board, turning them into reality. We are here to help and there are many opportunities for individual enterprises from across the sector to benefit from Objective One.”

In addition to David Rodda, the team – which also works as a secretariat to Objective One's Agriculture Task Force – includes Roger Metcalf (dairy sector co-ordinator), Elizabeth Menmuir (agricultural co-ordinator) William Garnier (woodland & industrial crop co-ordinator) and Kate Keogh (administrator).

Objective One Programme Director Carleen Kelemen added: "The team has an impressive and diverse track record of projects that it has helped bring to fruition over the past three years.

"I'm delighted that their work will continue for a second phase and I believe the announcement is very good news for the whole sector.”

The second three-year phase of the team's work will cost just over £890,000, of which around £445,000 will be provided by the EAGGF, through the Objective One Programme.

Editor's notes:

European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)

EAGGF is one of the four funds that make up the Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, which is making £314 million of investment available to support the local economy between 2000 and 2006.

EAGGF aims to:

For further information contact:

Roger Whilding
Cornish Horticulture Enterprises
01626 890405

Jason Clark
Communications Adviser
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Tel: 01872 241379
Fax: 01872 241388
objectiveone@cornwall.gov.uk

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