The edible horticulture sector across Wales is being urged to contribute to a consultation into an ambitious new blueprint aimed at boosting food and drink sales by almost a third by 2020.
Alun Davies AM The Welsh Government’s Minister for Natural Resources and Food Alun Davies AM has unveiled Delivering Growth: An Action Plan for the Food and Drinks Industry 2014-2020. Wales’ food and drink sector grew by 6% during the last year, but the Minister believes there is scope for further growth, and is particularly keen to work closely with SMEs and microbusinesses to raise awareness of the support available to help them grow.
Launching a formal four-month consultation into the plan at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society’s Winter Fair, the Minister said:
“We have designed this plan to ensure that Wales’ food industry reaches its full potential. That is why it includes a particular focus on delivering green growth and creating jobs throughout the food chain.
“We already have a good story to tell on food and drink, with Wales having seen a 6% growth in food and drinks sales last year and a combined turnover for agriculture, fishing and food manufacture of over £5.2 billion, however we can and must do more.”
The plan includes three central themes:
- Forming a Food and Drinks Federation to offer leadership to the sector
- Developing a new identity for Welsh food and drink that will support trade and market development
- Focusing on training and up-skilling throughout the food chain.
An in-depth consultation on the action plan will run until 3 March 2014, with final proposals set to be confirmed later that spring.
Source: HorticultureWales – Have Your Say On Action Plan For Food Sector
