Defra gives ï¿½2m boost to regional food

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Defra gives ï¿½2m boost to regional food

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Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 05 9:22 am Post subject: Defra gives ï¿½2m boost to regional food

DEFRA GIVES ï¿½2 MILLION BOOST TO QUALITY REGIONAL FOOD AND DRINK SECTOR

Food and Farming Minister, Lord Bach announced today a ï¿½2million boost to support the quality regional food and drink sector.

Defra is providing a further ï¿½1million per year for two years from 2006/7 to Food from Britain, the non-departmental body responsible for promoting regional food and drink in England and overseas. This is on top of the ï¿½3million Defra has already provided over the last three years to support the sector through the Regional Food Strategy."

This additional funding will allow Food from Britain to continue to support the regional food and drink sector through a range of activities, focussing on trade developments, consumer awareness and improving business competitiveness.

The decision follows an independent economic review of the Government's Regional Food Strategy published by consultants ADAS which shows that Government support for the sector has been effective and that those firms that have benefited from the strategy have performed better than non-beneficiaries.

Speaking today at an event organised by the Sustainable Farming and Food Implementation Group on 'Reconnecting the Public with Farming, Food and the Countryside', Lord Bach said:

"I am delighted to announce today that Defra is providing a further ï¿½2million spread over two years to Food from Britain, to continue our support of the quality regional food sector in England. This is on top of the ï¿½3million Defra has already provided over the last three years to support our regional food producers."

"The success of the Regional Food Strategy so far is a reflection of the hard work of all those involved and especially Food from Britain, the Regional Development Agencies and the regional food groups."

The ADAS evaluation report includes some recommendations for improvements to the strategy and Defra will be reviewing with stakeholders how best to take these forward. Defra is also taking this opportunity to consolidate delivery and promotion of the EU Protected Food Name Scheme with Food from Britain. The aim will be to maximise the effectiveness of the strategy and its delivery so that producers and consumers continue to receive the full benefits of this important element of the Governments Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. In 2003, Defra, working with Food from Britain (FFB), the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) and the Countryside Agency jointly agreed a Regional Food Strategy and prepared a new structure for support of quality regional food initiatives. FFB have received additional Government funds (an extra ï¿½3 million over 3 years starting 2003/04) to promote quality regional food. This is one of the measures assisting farmers to add value, as set out in our Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy (SSFF).

2. The independent evaluation by ADAS was commissioned by Defra to establish whether there was a continuing economic rationale for public sector support for the quality regional food sector in England; assess the effectiveness of the strategy and make recommendations on how the strategy could be improved.

3. The report of the economic evaluation will be available shortly at: https://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/evaluation/env.asp

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bernie-woman

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7824
Location: shropshire

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 05 9:29 am Post subject:
A good news story - wish I could find out what constitutes regional quality food in DEFRAS eyes Anyone know where I can find that out without me having to write to DEFRA

Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 05 9:33 am Post subject:
FFB website may help? https://www.foodfrombritain.com/servlet/dycon/ffbuk/ffb/FFB/en/Global/home

bernie-woman

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7824
Location: shropshire

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 05 9:50 am Post subject:

Thanks Behemoth -

still cannot find out whether the food companies have to make any kind of commitment to any kind of ethical objectives to be given the quality regional food label. I am currently writing a paper on quality standards/awards, many of them are not worth the paper they are written on and mean absolutley nothing at all - often used as a marketing tool only so I will need to dig further on this one

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