Dorset EMC

GOVERNMENT MUST SUPPORT REGION’S FARMERS AND FOOD PRODUCERS TO AVOID FOOD CRISIS

As food price inflation hits 40-year high, we are calling for immediate action from Government to back homegrown UK food security.

At an event at Westminster yesterday, sponsored by the University of Plymouth, we launched our Food Security Position Paper, setting out the action needed and the opportunity that can be unlocked through increased support and investment, to achieve sustainable growth, innovation, and resilience in the face of global threats.

An increasing dependence on global supply chains, climate change and geopolitical shocks has contributed to the highest levels of food price inflation in over 40 years, with over one in ten households now experiencing day-to-day food insecurity, and last year food inflation hitting 19%.

We are calling for:

• Targeted investment in innovation and technology: The region requires funding to drive agri-tech, sustainable aquaculture, and renewable energy innovation.

• Support for sustainable farming and fishing practices: Increased funding through Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS) to empower local farmers and fishers to adopt more sustainable practices.

• Strengthening domestic food processing: The region is home to only 4.5% of Britain’s food processing workforce, despite its significant agricultural output​. Expanding local capabilities will help to reduce reliance on foreign facilities.

• Public procurement of locally sourced food: By committing to sourcing 50% of public sector food purchases domestically, the Government can ensure local producers have a steady market.

GREAT SOUTH WEST’S POSITION AS LEADER IN UK ECONOMY CEMENTED AT MAJOR CONFERENCE

National and regional leaders showcased the economic importance of the South West to the UK and the new Government’s agenda at our inaugural Annual Conference.

Senior business leaders, industry experts, newly elected MPs, and political figures including keynote speaker Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State for Industry, came together at the South West’s first major event since the general election, to spotlight why the region matters in driving UK economic growth.

The sold-out conference of over 500 delegates offered an opportunity to hear about the new Government’s plans, and how the South West is poised to deliver for the UK economy.

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF THE SOUTH WEST RECOGNISED BY MINISTER OF STATE

Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State for Industry, delivered the conference keynote address, highlighting the region’s importance to the UK economy.

The keynote focused on the South West’s strengths in key sectors, and how the region’s stakeholders can work with the new Government to realise its opportunities.

Reflecting on the event, the Minister said: “This Government’s mission is economic growth, and that means removing barriers to the innovation, skills and potential that I saw in abundance in the South West. We all need to work hard to get the structures right nationally, regionally and locally to unlock potential and drive investment.

“From Somerset’s new gigafactory for electric vehicles to the mining renaissance in Cornwall, the South West is a vital economic engine for the UK and will play a huge role in our mission to Net Zero.”

INDEPENDENT ECONOMIC REVIEW SETS OUT ROADMAP FOR WORKING WITH WESTMINSTER

The Great South West Independent Economic Review sets out a proposed roadmap for working with Westminster to deepen collaboration between the region and Government.

At the conference, we launched an Independent Economic Review of the region, an authoritative analysis conducted by leading experts to support our mission to elevate the visibility, influence and leadership that the Great South West can play for the UK economy.

The Review is based on a detailed analysis of current trends and patterns, together with a comprehensive programme of consultation with business, academia and Government, alongside insights from over 50 regional and national experts to test, analyse and critique the Review’s underpinning evidence base, and the insights and policy direction arising from it.

The consensus from senior leaders demonstrates the strength and scale of the national opportunity, and a collective readiness to work with Government to secure its economic ambitions.

The Review sets out our proposed roadmap for working with Government, to recognise the vital role of the South West in the UK economy, and catalyse on the region's investment and growth opportunities.

The full IER will be available publicly later this year.

REPORT POSITIONS REGION AS THE KEY PLAYER FOR UK INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY

Our anticipated report on the region’s high value manufacturing sector positions the area as a key player in the UK’s renewed Industrial Strategy.

The High Value Manufacturing report launched on National Manufacturing Day, to shine a spotlight on the critical importance of the Great South West and its role in delivering the UK’s Industrial Strategy.

The report, developed in collaboration with the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and over 60 organisations from across the region, highlights the South West’s potential to drive innovation, support clean energy, and contribute to national resilience, while creating high-value jobs across multiple key sectors.

High value manufacturing is a key pillar in the Great South West’s economic growth strategy. With £7.9 billion of Gross Value Added (GVA) generated annually by the sector, the South West is a growing powerhouse in manufacturing, contributing to national resilience, innovation, and economic security.

The report has identified the South West’s strengths across aerospace, marine, defence, clean energy, and food and drink, aligning closely with the Government’s focus on clean power, harnessing data, and building a resilient economy.

ENSURING NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY: THE SOUTH WEST’S ROLE IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

The University of Plymouth sponsored yesterday’s ‘Food Security Spotlight’ event at Westminster. In this article, Professor Richard Preziosi, Director of the Centre of Research excellence in Intelligent and Sustainable Productive Systems, delves into the region’s role in delivering food security through sustainable agriculture.

“The South West's agricultural innovation, combined with its rich farming heritage, positions the region as a key player in ensuring the UK's long-term food security through sustainable practices and cutting-edge technology.

“The South West plays a pivotal role in ensuring the UK's food security, producing nearly a third of the nation's food and home to a booming agri-tech sector. The region's resilient agricultural practices, rich heritage, and diverse landscapes make it a leader in sustainable agriculture.”

NEW RESEARCH CENTRE TO SPEARHEAD SUPPORT FOR CORNWALL AND DEVON MINERAL MINING

A pioneering new research centre, designed to accelerate critical mineral extraction in Cornwall and Devon, has received a multi-million pound funding boost.

The new centre, called the Critical Minerals Accelerating the Green Economy Centre and based at the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus, has received £4.5 million in new Government funding.

The centre will not only help experts address the challenges faced in sustainably securing fresh and innovative access to critical minerals – crucial for the delivery of clean and digital technologies – but will also have the potential to create 2-3,000 new jobs in the region.

The pioneering new Critical Minerals Accelerating the Green Economy Centre, based at the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus, will help experts address the challenges faced in sustainably securing fresh and innovative access to critical minerals.

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE GREAT SOUTH WEST

Play your part in building the future of our region.

The Great South West is a pioneering region with an unrivalled opportunity to create world-leading growth in the green and blue economies. From Land’s End to the Jurassic Coast, we are made up of individuals and organisations leading the way in our journey to be the UK’s clean energy powerhouse.

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• Developing technologies for green and blue sectors?

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The Great South West is the ‘Powerhouse’ region spanning Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset and Somerset. The Partnership represents eight county and unitary authorities, local universities and major businesses working in collaboration to develop our green and blue economy, building on the South West’s outstanding natural capital and creative businesses.