Agenda item

Agri-Food Sector Plan

(To receive a report by Justin Brown, Enterprise Commissioner, which provides the Committee with an update on the progress of the Agri-Food Sector Plan)

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report which provided an update on the progress of the Agri-food Sector Plan.

 

The Agri-food Sector Plan had been produced by the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership but had been shaped by discussion with industry and with the Scrutiny Committee.

 

It was highlighted that significant progress had been made by the sector.  Agriculture and food production represented arguably the most important sector for the area with a farm to fork food chain totally 24% of the county's workforce and represented 21% of the local economy.  The county grew 12% of the nation's food and processed 70% of the country's fish so the concentration of farming, food processing and related industries made Greater Lincolnshire significant on a national level as well as locally to the food chain.  

 

In 2014, an Agri-food Sector Plan had been published to guide the development of the industry and the investments required to double the sector's economy by 2030.  In 2017 the plan had been updated to reflect the need to respond to Brexit, address the pressure from the introduction of the National Living Wage, and to embrace the progress of new technology.  The revised plan was attached as an appendix to the report.

 

The report provided detailed information as part of the report covering: science and innovation; investment, food enterprise zones; advocacy; trade, employment and automation; and automation, bids for funding.

 

The Committee was provided with an opportunity to ask questions, where the following points were noted: -

 

·       The food chain was heavily reliant on migrant labour with over 25% of the food processing workforce currently EU migrants with some Lincolnshire businesses employing over 50% of their workforce from the EU in both food processing and distribution.  The food sector would therefore be compelled to increase labour productivity and invest in automation.  The Committee recognised that there may be a need to support any individuals who may be negatively affected by the introduction of automation.  In response, it was advised that the introduction should ideally not result in a loss of jobs but employees could be upskilled to operate and maintain the equipment;

·       The agri-culture sector was of significant importance to the county and young people should be encouraged to enter the profession.  It was suggested that this could be taken forward by the new officer role, as referred to in Minute 35;

·       It was highlighted that the report recommended that the Executive Councillor for Economy and Place, in consultation with the Chairman of the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee, support and endorse any bids from partners for agri-food programmes, which were being led by the local enterprise partnership partners and which were seeking funding from central government.  The Committee supported this recommendation and requested to receive details of any funding bids at future meetings of the Committee.

 

RESOLVED

 

(1)  That the current progress being made on the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership's agri-food sector be noted.

 

(2)  That support be given to the recommendation for the Executive Councillor for Economy and Place, in consultation with the Chairman of the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee, to support and endorse any bids from partners for agri-food programmes, which are being led by the local enterprise partnership partners and which are seeking funding from central government.

 

(3)  That support be given to the recommendation that officers explore the potential opportunities for Lincolnshire's manufacturing businesses to increase the level of automated projects that they supply to the local food production sector.

Supporting documents:

 

 
 
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