Norfolk and Suffolk Agri-Food Industry Council

Tuesday 12 December 2023 10.00-12.00

Via Teams

Minutes

Welcome from the Chair

 Corrienne Peasgood, the Chair, welcomed members to the meeting.

 Minutes of the last meeting were approved.

 Noted apologies (listed at the bottom of the minutes).

 Apologised for the lack of a 3rd quarter meeting this year, unfortunately due to unexpected

circumstances the meeting had to be postponed and before we knew it this meeting was upon

us.

Anti-Slavery in Agri-Food: Sarah-Jane Niles, Norfolk Anti-Slavery Network

 Here on behalf of the Norfolk Anti-Slavery Network, which is a community partnership funded

by the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk.

 The bulk of the work is around ongoing operations and work very closely with the GLA.

 Setting up a business sub-group with representatives from small to large companies to discuss

modern slavery in Norfolk (including the risk to business operations and supply chains).

 Working from data that has come to the police, know that this is not the full picture. From that

data, Norfolk aligns with the national picture in the sense that labour exploitation is the most

prevalent form of modern slavery. 50% of forced criminality is in children.

 Can support with risk-management for anti-slavery in the agri-food sector, providing free

training and bespoke packages for organisations, staff and their supply chain on modern

slavery.

 Norfolk is working closely with Suffolk on this agenda.

Agri-Tech and Food Tech Launchpad – James Allen, New Anglia LEP

 Here to talk about the Agri-Tech and Food Tech Launchpad that we have secured for Norfolk,

Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Greater Lincolnshire which is £7.5m in locked-off innovation

funding to support key innovation priorities right across the agri-food chain. This has been a

priority for the Industry Council for some time.

 The background behind this Innovate UK Launchpad comes back to this Industry Council

which tasked New Anglia LEP with building the relationship with Greater Lincolnshire LEP and

the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority on agri-food. This culminated in the

‘Agri-Food in Eastern England’ regional narrative document which set out the huge importance

of this region to the UK food chain and the UK economy.

 Equally, from a trade and investment perspective, the size of the prize is huge with the

Department of Business and Trade’s high potential opportunities (plant science for nutrition –

NRP; 5G and digitisation – Adastral Park; and automation in food processing – Lincolnshire)

supporting agri-tech and the Freeport East promotion which includes agri-tech.

 New Anglia LEP led the submission to Innovate UK at the end of 2022, working closely with

consortium partners includer Greater Lincolnshire LEP, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Combined Authority, Agri-TechE, Norwich Research Park, UEA, University of Lincoln,

Cambridge Enterprise, Adastral Park, NIAB, Food Valley and Connected Innovation.

 We were informed in September this year that the bid had been successful and that the

Launchpad itself would start in October, with the launch of round one competitions. This was

an extremely tight turnaround.

 The key aims of the Agri-Tech and Food Tech Launchpad are to support the formation of new

collaborative R&D partnerships, improve the quality of innovation bids from our region, attract

people and businesses from outside of our region, and importantly to engage more businesses

in innovation activities.

 The Launchpad itself is all encompassing, covering agri-tech, agri-biotech and food-tech. But

we all worked hard to ensure this supported as many sub-sectors as possible hence it covers:

o Improving sustainability in the context of environmental challenges

o Productivity improvements to horticulture, livestock and aquaculture

o Food manufacturing and processing

o Resilience across the supply chain

o Supporting safe, healthy and nutritious diets

o Enhancing animal welfare

o Minimising waste and pollution across the agri-food chain

 Round one of the Innovate UK Agri-Tech and Food Tech Launchpad commenced on 23rd

October and closed on 6th December, comprising of:

o Minimum Financial Assistance – 100% fully funded grants for businesses between

£25k-100k

o Collaborative R&D – Grant funding between £150k-300k for businesses to build R&D

consortia with research institutes, universities, charities, larger corporates, etc.

o As a result of the briefing we led with Greater Lincolnshire LEP and the fantastic

information sharing from partners such as Agri-TechE , New Anglia LEP has heard from

a huge number of companies interested in these two competitions. We have signposted

businesses to the Innovation Grant Mentoring Project for free bid writing and mentoring

support, Innovate UK EDGE for similar support for larger companies, and to our

academic experts where there are opportunities for the CR&D programme.

o Where companies were not quite ready for round 1, they know that there will be another

round or two to support them. We expect round 2 to commence around the new

financial year in 2024.

o In addition, there is a Cluster Management Organisation competition still open. This

will support the management of the Launchpad across the four counties and multiple

sub-sectors – we are working with the Greater Lincolnshire LEP and Cambridgeshire

and Peterborough Combined Authority to bid in to support this with funding to be split

across the four counties if successful.

 In addition to the Launchpad, New Anglia LEP’s Connected Innovation team (which I sit in)

have been working closely with Innovate UK to develop the Innovate UK Local Action Plan for

Norfolk and Suffolk. This is a real coup as it is the first Action Plan published outside of the

non-mayoral combined authorities or devolved nations.

 The document was launched last week with the CEO of Innovate UK and a huge presence

from across the Catapult Network and Innovate UK KTN and EDGE.

 The key commitments in the plan are to strengthen strategic partnerships (including our

industry council); provide targeted innovation support (see the launchpad as one mechanism,

but lots of other Innovate UK support for the sector, including working with Defra and the Agri-

Tech Centres); and finally, a commitment to engage and inspire innovation showcasing case

studies of exciting companies in this area.

 As part of this focus, Calum Murray, Innovate UK’s Head of Agriculture and Food has

committed to supporting future Agri-Food Industry Council meetings and working up potential

actions to support with Innovate UK’s key priorities for the sector.

Jonathan Clarke:

 Thank you for pushing this through with Innovate UK.

 In terms of reviewing the grant applications, who is sat on the panels as there are some

important learnings from the Eastern Agri-Tech Growth Initiative.

 From this funding competition, there will also be some opportunities to draw out exciting case

studies for us to promote to inspire and encourage innovation.

Martin Collison:

 One of the conversations we had with UKRI when developing the competitions for round one

was around the size of the grants for businesses. Some other Launchpads have given much

larger grants, but we felt that if we kept grants at a more modest size we would get more

businesses applying and this would be the start of a process, leading on to larger bids to

national programmes giving us a larger funnel for innovative businesses.

Jonathan Clarke:

 The follow-up is important. There is a lot of grant funding out there and smaller businesses are

often not aware of it or find it difficult to engage with. So we should think about the follow-up as

part of this process.

Roberta Willner:

 The Innovation Grant Mentoring Project (IGMP) has a really good track record of providing free

support for bid writing and grant mentoring to companies seeking innovation funding. A few

companies have been signposted in our direction. This support is available for companies from

Norfolk and Suffolk.

Tim Place:

 Would IGMP be able to support Place UK through this complicated and difficult process of

securing grant funding?

Roberta Willner & Matt Jones:

 The IGMP understands the high mark required from companies and the journey that needs to

be navigated. To date, it has leveraged over £1m from Innovate UK for SMEs.

 Can send a link to a recent recorded webinar on the IGMP and applying to innovation funding.

Could perhaps look to link a future webinar to this theme?

James Allen:

 Given Place UK would sit above the definition required for IGMP, there is also Innovate UK

EDGE who are providing similar support to companies across our region. We are signposting

businesses to both opportunities for support depending on their size and needs.

Corrienne Peasgood, Chair:

 When James circulates information on the Launchpad’s next competition rounds, we should

look to circulate information on wrap-around and follow-on support for companies to support

them through the funnel.

 Council members have an active role to play here in promoting this locked-off innovation

funding to their networks, which is aligned to so many of the sector’s key priorities.

Agri-Food Skills Updates – Dean Pierpoint, Norfolk Chamber of Commerce & Greg Smith, Agri-

Food Sector Skills Group

Dean Pierpoint:

 Leading on the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) for Norfolk and Suffolk.

 The LSIP articulates the priorities for businesses in the region, sitting there as an employer

reference point for future funding and future curriculum development, helping to shape the

future workforce.

 Surveyed hundreds of businesses.

 Embedding the LSIP into the local skills system in a light-touch manner.

 The success of phase one was a testament to all partners involved. This culminated in the

Secretary of State publishing the LSIP.

 The key findings were as follows:

o Soft skills – lacking in the workforce around communication and teamwork.

Fundamentals for businesses.

o Workforce digital skills – digital literacy still needs addressing focusing on the basics of

digital skills.

o Agri-tech and food processing:

 Land, water and waste management skills lacking.

 Need for engineering skills.

 Data analysts required more and more.

o Net Zero:

 Staff need upskilling.

 Now in phase two, getting the LSIP process into the local skills system.

 Reporting on LSIP progress on an annual basis to Government (next update in April/May

2024).

 Need more employer engagement with the agri-food / agri-tech sector.

 There is £4.7m into the skills system to support LSIP priorities.

Corrienne Peasgood:

 LSIPs are not operating the same across the country – they require strong collaboration which

is something we have across Norfolk and Suffolk.

 Not all have agri-food in them, so this is a real positive for our region to have this focus.

 Regardless of the colour of the next Government, LSIPs are likely to be embedded in the skills

landscape so it is definitely worth the engagement to support the future of our workforce.

Greg Smith:

 The Agri-Food Skills Group has been reporting to the Agri-Food Industry Council for Norfolk

and Suffolk since its formation.

 Thanked the Chambers of Commerce for involving the Agri-Food Skills Group in the LSIP

process. Can use this to reshape priorities of the Skills Group picking up opportunities

presented by the LSIP and associated funding. Have regular dialogue with the sector, but this

is a real opportunity for industry to engage with the Skills Group to input and support.

 Additional initiatives the Skills Group has been focusing on include:

o Made a sizeable contribution to the EFRA Select Committee consultation on education

and learning in agriculture. Fed the contribution into the LEP Network’s response

providing evidence which will hopefully help to shape future policy and opportunities for

the sector. Quoted the work done to support the LSIP from Martin Collison.

o Worked with Simon Allen to signpost businesses to what is going on across the skills

system locally to support them.

Lynsey Wilson:

 Find the Skills Group really helpful. Having employers to call upon for support with curriculum

enhancements is incredibly useful.

Jerry White:

 Round of funding to support the LSIP, with agri-tech as a key sector, has been coordinated

through Suffolk New College for five colleges across the region. Demonstrated the

collaborative approach we are able to take across Norfolk and Suffolk.

 Some challenges with LSIP funding which will hopefully be straightened out. For example, only

found about funding in November 2023 and the revenue funding ran out in March 2024, which

is not exactly workable.

 Longer lead times on capital investment which is helpful to drive forward curriculum with new

technologies exposed to students to support awareness raising around agri-tech, with a strong

sustainability focus.

Martin Collison:

 Should think about how we align this with the devolution process, as there is alignment with

devolved skills budgets.

Roberta Willner:

 Norfolk County Council is preparing for devolution – this year or the next – with an adult

education skills strategy manager in post. Will be developing the Skills Strategy which is

required for the adult education budget to be devolved. Obviously, this will incorporate much of

the great work done to date.

Net Zero: Agri-Food Industrial Decarbonisation Project – Nicolette Jeffreys, New Anglia LEP

 Presenting a draft route plan for agri-food industrial decarbonisation today. This is just the start,

and very keen for much more dialogue and consultation with you all to take this forward.

 The project itself is funded by the Norfolk Investment Framework but is applicable to Suffolk

partners of course given the relevance and applicable nature to the work.

 Running workshops to help the development of the final route plan.

 The Agri-Food Clean Growth event will be held at the John Innes Centre on Norwich Research

Park on 21st February in partnership with Innovate UK KTN and UEA.

 Energy has by far the highest source of GHG emissions in the agri-food sector, accounting for

69%. Farm gate emissions are second highest at 15%, followed by waste at 4% and fertiliser

and pesticide manufacturing at 3%. Food processing accounts for 2%. These statistics led to

the project being opened up across the food system.

 Need to build more resilience across the system.

 There are lots of technologies to support this agenda, but there are barriers to adoption and

barriers to encouraging adoption.

 Farmers have an awful lot of the challenges. The recommendation for solutions should have

the food system wrapping around to help support the farmer in the transition to net zero.

Martin Collison:

 The biggest challenge of all is what are we actually trying to look at that. All to do with trade.

The UK’s food production is up there with the best in the world in terms of carbon footprint for

what we produce. If we simply import more, we put up global carbon footprint substantially.

 Some very strange debates – where some feel that the answer is to produce less food. We

need to step back and think about the footprint of production process in the UK, not about the

footprint of the food we consume.

Ben Turner:

 Totally agree with some of the points that Martin has raised.

 Food producers in the UK sit in such a ridiculous position. Farmers are treated in a bizarre

fashion – produce incredible standards of crops/produce and allow everyone else to import

food at different standards. Only producing a system where nobody wants to buy UK standard

product; and we import food of a worse quality and worse standards.

 Invited Nicky to come along and talk about various elements, including lack of technology being

utilised by farmers.

Belinda Clarke:

 Such an important piece of work. Still some chewy issues – what is the baseline position at the

moment. Methodology is a challenge.

 Will there be funding to support the ambitions in the route map.

 NFU Net Zero Strategy out there as well, which is worth capturing and utilising what we can at

the local level.

Tim Place:

 From the horticultural sector perspective in the UK, feel like they are being forced out.

Government wants Net Zero and industry wants Net Zero. Minimum wage increase will have a

massive impact. Europe can produce strawberries cheaper and, in the UK, seeing water

irrigation licences being taken away, impacting water certainty.

Jonathan Clarke:

 What we really need is a digital twin for agriculture in rural counties. An example – digital twin

of Corby gives a baseline and models what specific changes might mean to deliver net zero.

 Missed out on various sources of funding to support this agenda. We need to home in on

resourcing, funding and the right people to support.

 Belinda Clarke – there is an Agri-TechE member that could support on digital twinning if this

would be of interest.

Martin Collison:

 On a global basis, beef production is seen negatively. In the UK, carbon footprint is a half or

third of global beef production, and the best production is even better than that.

Nicky Jeffreys:

 Please do reach out to support this project.

Food, Farming and Environment Update – Clarke Willis & Jordan Sharman, Norfolk FWAG

Clarke Willis:

 Now have a team of 8 at Norfolk FWAG.

 The Defra 25-year Environment Plan set out Government’s action to help the natural world

regain and retail good health – it has just had a five-year refresh.

 Norfolk and Suffolk’s natural capital assets register was produced in 2020, with detailed

analysis by UEA. Everything to do with land and sea is captured around our coast.

 Defra’s 5-year review shows Norfolk leading the way in a lot of the 66 indicators set out in the

framework.

 1st December final payment of basic payment scheme was less than many had expected due

to phasing out.

 Big growth was landscape recovery, under ELMS. Funds large-scale land-use change for the

long-term with funding from public and private sources producing environmental and climate

outcomes. Round 1 pilots went well with a number of regional projects being driven by

landowners and farmers.

 Round 2 also saw some successful projects from our region. These are large-scale projects

where farmers are working together at scale.

 Involved in the Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils are

responsible authorities for preparing Local Nature Recovery Strategies for their respective

counties. Being driven by new team at NCC – Natural Norfolk team – mapping lots of data.

Jordan Sharman:

 There is the need/demand for developers to offset biodiversity net gain by 10% when building

new developments.

 Farmers do not know where to start. Holding webinars and workshops to support with jargon-

busting on biodiversity net gain and carbon toolkits.

 One of challenges with carbon mapping is data mapping, data literacy skills not there with

farming. Putting on a webinar around carbon mapping.

 Jordan’s role is to keep on top of funding streams:

o Defra facilitation fund – cluster groups – applications must be in by 15 Jan 2024.

o Defra test & trial – looking to deliver two pilots in the new year.

o Paludiculture Exploration Fund – working with Broads Authority. Investigating rewetting

broads marshes and cropping reed.

o Defra natural environment investment readiness fund – working with partners in the

Broads Authority.

 Norfolk Landscapes Conference on 2nd October 2024 – environmental and coastal landscape –

will be delivered by Norfolk FWAG in partnership with RNAA. Will highlight how we as a region

can protect and enhance Norfolk’s unique landscapes.

Clarke Willis:

 Need a competitive agri-food sector alongside a world-class environment.

 The Land App have fantastic data that they are utilising.

Ben Turner:

 Do reach out as through the mapping software with John Deere, mapping 70% of all land mass

in Norfolk and North Suffolk. Might be opportunities to do work together with the FWAG.

Knowledge of the fertiliser and spray applied, and mapping land thoroughly.

State of the Nation - All

Ben Turner:

 Moved up into Lincolnshire in the last year or so. They are playing a different game entirely and

the door is completely open for business, so shifting jobs there.

 Wanting so hard to invest in Norfolk but struggling due to the challenges. It is made so easy to

invest in Lincolnshire.

Mark Nicholas:

 Ben’s comments show us we need to be reminded what our bold vision should be.

 The RNAA is doing what it can to support the sector.

 Norfolk Farming Conference on 6th Feb covering many of the themes discussed today, with a

fantastic line-up of speakers.

 The Rural Business Awards Scheme will be launched at the conference.

 The Festival of Knowledge will be delivered by the Chambers of Commerce, with the RNAA

coordinating agri-food and agri-tech.

Roberta Willner:

 Will send further details around for rural business awards. 9 different categories. Sponsorship

opportunities. Looking for judges for each of the category panels.

 Developing a Norfolk Economic Strategy over the next year – this is a Government requirement

as part of the LEP transition. Holding engagement workshops in January across Norfolk’s

districts – would welcome attendance. Will look at key opportunities as well as barriers to

growth/investment. Will also influence the distribution of the Investment Fund.

Any Other Business (Chair)

Corrienne Peasgood, Chair:

 Stuart Catchpole can talk about some of the cross-cluster Space East projects that will support

this sector in the new year.

 We will have an update on LEP transition, as the Industry Council will remain a joint function

across both County Councils, and we will find out more about the host location and aspirations

then. We can then reflect on priorities, terms of reference, governance, and structure to ensure

it remains fit for purpose.

In Attendance

Corrienne Peasgood (Chair); Adrian Dyter, Muntons; Martin Collison, Collison and Associates; Greg

Smith, Agri-Food Skills Group; Roberta Willner, Norfolk County Council; Tim Place, Place UK; Ben

Turner, Ben Burgess and Co Ltd; Mark Nicholas, Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association; Jonathan

Clarke, JIC; Jerry White, City College Norwich; Lynsey Wilson, Suffolk New College; Matt Jones,

Suffolk County Council; Clarke Willis & Jordan Sharman, Norfolk FWAG, James Allen & Nicolette

Jeffreys, New Anglia LEP; Belinda Clarke, Agri-TechE; Sarah-Jane Niles, Norfolk Anti-Slavery Network;

and Dean Pierpoint, Norfolk Chamber of Commerce.

Apologies for absence

Alan Pease, Suffolk New College; Cath Crowther, CLA; Sam Fairs, Hillfairs Farming Ltd; Philip

Ainsworth, Suffolk Agricultural Association; Alexander Larter, Broadland Food Innovation Centre;

Stuart Catchpole, Katie Snell and Julian Munson, New Anglia LEP; Charles Hesketh, NFU; and

Andrew Francis, Team Ag(UK).