A new £21 million programme to strengthen Wales' food and drink sector is expected to safeguard thousands of jobs and deliver over £100 million for the Welsh economy, according to the Welsh government.
Project HELIX provides funding support for research into global food production, trends and waste to help small to medium sized food manufacturers across Wales to increase production and reduce waste.
The Project was launched at the TasteWales event where over 100 producers showcased food and drink to over 150 UK and international buyers.
"We've set ambitious targets for the food and drink industry to achieve growth of 30% by 2020 and I am pleased to say we are firmly on course to meet that target," said cabinet secretary for rural affairs Lesley Griffiths.
"Project HELIX is the next step on the journey to ensure our food and drink industry is globally recognised for quality, creativity and skills."
Global food and drink map
Developed by Food Innovation Wales (FIW), which is a partnership of the three food centres in Wales, Project HELIX will support food manufacturers over the next five years.
David Lloyd from Cardiff Metropolitan University's ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre, one of the FIW partners said: "We want the industry to be innovative right across the board, from improving nutritional standards and new product development in response to health and well-being challenges to retail and market trends.
"Our aim is to put Wales on the global food and drink map, and to do that, HELIX will provide high levels of support such as identifying business people who want to invest or advising food manufacturers on technical standards and regulations."
'Bright future'
Martin Jardine, Food Technology Centre Manager at Grwp Llandrillo Menai, another of the Food Innovation Wales partners, said: "Efficiency is critical to business success, from being more responsive to changing markets, meeting environmental challenges like reducing food miles and food waste, right through to making the supply chain more effective.
"By forensically looking at ways to become more efficient on each and every step of the food and drink journey, I’m confident that the sector in Wales has a very bright future."
Completing the FIW partnership is Eirlys Lloyd of Food Centre Wales based in Ceredigion, who added: "By being more strategic there is huge potential for the Welsh food and drink sector to improve and realise its ambitious growth targets.
"Through the HELIX project we will support businesses in Wales to analyse their entire operation and strategically plan every element, including industrial manufacturing, food processing, public engagement and skills training and development."
