2024 has taken us another step forward to becoming a Top 10 Global Food Cluster. 

We are already the largest fresh produce sector of any area in the country, with 30% of vegetable and salad production, as well as nearly 20% of ornamental crops and major new investments in production, notably in high tech greenhouses, aquaculture, and the protein transition.  

Our Devolution Deal for Greater Lincolnshire is moving forwards at pace.  It recognises the key part the UK Food Valley plays in future UK food security and clean energy supply and DEFRA has committed to meet with the UK Food valley team annually to work with SMEs on sustainable food production.    

We exist to promote our world-leading food tech and clusters. We connect people, ideas, and solutions, and we are already making waves as an international sector leader. Promoting what we are doing here in Lincolnshire remains critical to our success and we need everyone to join us as ambassadors to raise the profile and share the story of the UK Food Valley.   

Our Christmas edition leads with a fireside chat with one of the UK Food Valley exemplars, Tim Jackson, Operations Director of Worldwide Fruit, about the focus and ambition for the businesses and the wider future of the food sector, with innovation a pivotal catalyst for change and sustainable food chains. Tim sat on our innovation panel at our recent LEP Annual Conference and you can view this insightful discussion in full here.  

We are also delighted to report that the South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone (SLFEZ) at the heart of the UK Food Valley has taken on a new tenant Fairman Knight and Sons UK. This is a truly trailblazing business upcycling organic food waste using ‘bioconversion’ into Black Soldier Fly larvae which is dried and used as sustainable pet, animal and aquaculture feed as a sustainable, low-carbon alternative to soya. A true pioneer in the protein transition, and the SLFEZ is delighted to welcome Fairman Knight into the fold. 

Further stories in this festive issue are our favourite picks from this year, so please read on to share in our collective progress and pride. And finally, our thanks to all who have supported and participated with us across this year. We could not do this without you.   

Merry Christmas! 

The UK Food Valley Team