Food industry event highlights county’s role in UK food security

Key stakeholders in the food industry came together to promote the UK Food Valley and be introduced to the new Mayor for Greater Lincolnshire. The event, hosted by the UK Food Valley and Lincolnshire County Council, welcomed industry leaders, investors, and policymakers to discuss the strategic importance of the food and farming sector to the region.

Councillor Liam Kelly, Executive Councillor for Growth at Lincolnshire County Council (pictured), said: “Since taking office I’ve had the privilege of meeting with a wide range of businesses across the county, and what I’ve seen is nothing short of inspiring with stories of innovation, resilience and success, particularly in our food and farming sectors.

“These industries are not just part of our heritage - they are central to our future. 

“Our county already produces 30% of the nation’s food and is home to some of the UK’s most productive agricultural land. That’s not just a statistic; it’s a strategic asset.” 

At the event, Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, pledged to be an ambassador for the industry and to advocate for the sector in Westminster, fight for fairer policies, and cut red tape in her commitment to the Lincolnshire food and farming sector.

Dame Andrea said: “We need to make sure that every politician across the country is talking about food security. The UK Food Valley is one of the most important aspects of our county for feeding Britain. Food and farming is not only imperative to Lincolnshire and the livelihoods of local people, but also to feeding the country. 

“I will be making sure that our industries have the skills to really flourish and I have already put funding in place to explore AI across agri-tech. I will also be shining a light on what’s great about the county to make sure we not only attract inward investment from central government, but also encourage more businesses to invest in Lincolnshire.”     

The event also served as a platform to foster collaboration between academic institutions and commercial partners, aiming to tackle sector challenges around sustainability, innovation and technology.

A panel of influential speakers discussed these challenges and opportunities, including:

• Jonathan Oldfield, Site Director at Pilgrim’s Europe and UK Food Valley Food Board member
• Shane Meharg, Research and Marketing Director at Sadel Group
• Professor Simon Pearson, Director and Founder of the Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology (LIAT), University of Lincoln

Jonathan Oldfield from Pilgrim’s Europe, which supplies 20% of the UK’s poultry production, said: “The UK Food Valley has a leading academic and research cluster which underpins and drives innovation across our food chains.  

“We are already the largest fresh produce sector of any area in the country, with major new investments in production across high tech greenhouses, aquaculture and the protein transition.

“Our agriculture, food processing, wholesale, logistics and input suppliers together are worth £4.8bn, support 75,000 jobs and sell over £13.6bn of food and drink a year.” 

Professor Simon Pearson, who is a leader in inter-disciplinary research in the field of agri-technology, said: “The biggest imminent disruptor and enabler is the rise in data and AI for the sector.

“We are one of the first UK universities working in applied inter-disciplinary research with industry to commercialise new sector technology, and we already have 50 businesses who have benefited from working with us at both the Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology and the National Centre for Food Manufacturing. 

“This is important because it accelerates bringing new innovation and tech to the market much faster to be available to benefit British farmers and producers.”