FEZ set for new global project

South Holland’s food technology industry is set to benefit from a new international trade initiative.

The announcement will see the area work with the Department for International Trade to attract overseas investment into agrifood automation and robotics.

Holbeach’s Food Enterprise Zone (FEZ) will be part of the project involving 177 cities around the world. It will be part of the High Potential Opportunities scheme which aims to attract inward investment into agrifood and robotics projects.

“This is really positive news for the area and the additional support, promotion and resource will be invaluable as the district and wider county continues to promote itself to investors as the home of the largest cluster of agri-food businesses anywhere in the country,” said Coun Nick Worth, deputy lead of South Holland District Council and county council member for Holbeach.

“With the Department for International Trades’ assistance we can begin to build new global connections and highlight some of the fantastic projects taking place in the area, such at the Food Enterprise zone,” he added.

Partners from the network, including South Holland District Council, Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), universities and industry will meet to start work on the project.

“Food production is the cornerstone of the GreaterLincolnshire economy. It has created more growth and high-value jobs in the last five years that any sector, so we are delighted this is recognised nationally,” said Pat Doody, chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP which led the bid for inclusion.

“Partners locally are working together to develop Greater Lincolnshire into the ‘UK Food Valley’ which will compete globally. In the last five years we have seen a real upturn in this sector.”

The partnership will help develop global connections and highlight some of the projects taking place in the area.