11.06.04
Objective One and the Dairy Industry

The Objective One Programme has invested regularly in the Cornish dairy industry to ensure the future of the farmers and the food processors. Since its beginning, just three and a half years ago, the Programme has provided nearly £5 million of investment into dairy based projects, which has been the catalyst for a total investment of over £27 million.

With encouragement from the Western Morning News more and more people are turning to locally produced food, which is also essential to Cornwall's future as a primary area of dairy production.

Beneficiaries have included projects such as the Lynher Dairy, which has received national recognition and awards for both its cheeses; it won gold, silver and bronze awards at the British Cheese Awards, and as best agricultural building. It also featured in a list produced by The Independent of the 50 best modern buildings to visit from around the world. Investments have ensured increased production outputs in Cornwall as many projects such as the Cornish Country Larder and Kelly's of Bodmin have been able to modernise equipment and expand on premises to cater for national suppliers and supermarkets. Dairy Crest, which currently guarantees a market for 330 million litres of locally produced milk, has been enabled to expand their premises at the Davidstow Creamery to increase the production of cheddar cheese. Their project manager, Brian Eddy predicts that, thanks to Objective One funding local dairy farmers will be supplying 500 million litres annually within the next few years.

The "Grassland Challenge" was also made possible by Objective One investment. The projects objective is to bridge the gap between the needs of dairy farmers and the wealth of information available on grassland and forage crop issues to improve farm business competitiveness. As Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Objective One Partnership said at the Royal Cornwall Show today: "I'm delighted to be able to say Objective One has been providing investment into both ends of the cow, through projects to improve grassland management to food processors, who create unique Cornish products. A sustainable future for dairy farming is of vital importance for Cornwall and with Objective One investment this can be achieved and contribute positively to a prosperous future."

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Editor's notes:

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Sue Wolstenholme
Objective One Communications
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mob: 07973 813647
Tel: 01579 370991

lmroberts@cornwall.gov.uk

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