Food industry targets innovation for growth
12 Dec 2013
Greater use of sensors across processing plants and the simulation and modelling of new facilities are just two of several key areas identified in a new report aimed at growing the UK’s food and drink industry through innovation.
Trade body the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) yesterday published its priority areas for innovation as part of its strategy for the sector to achieve 20% growth by 2020.
The document, Delivering Sustainable Growth through Innovation, sets out three overarching ambitions of improving knowledge transfer, ensuring that the sector has the technical skills required to compete globally; and the creation of a multi-disciplinary, strategically focussed approach to deliver integrated solutions.
Under these general ambitions the document makes a number of specific actions points to help achieve £4 billion growth by 2020, including several looking at the design of process plants. These include:
• Make better use of simulation and modelling to de-risk investment in new facilities
• Keep machines running for longer and in better condition, for example with self-cleaning technology
• Making sure that processing capability is matched effectively to raw materials
• Improve the quality of products through technology, for example better use of sensors in manufacturing
Out-going FDF President Jim Moseley, who launched the vision document, said: “As the FDF’s Centenary Year draws to a close we have been able to reflect on 100 years of food and drink manufacturers embracing innovations which have transformed consumers’ lives. To write the next chapter in this success story will require the shared commitment of industry, government and the research community to work together on the priority areas identified in this vision.”
