The University is working with food group Produced in Kent as part of a bid for new government investment in the county.
Professor Andrew Fearne, of the University’s Kent Business School and an expert in food supply chains, is advising the Kent County Council-supported body.
The South East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is bidding for £1.2 billion from Government as part of a strategy to leverage £10 billion of investment into the South East LEP area (Kent, East Sussex, Essex) to accelerate growth in jobs and house building until 2021.
As part of the LEP programme submitted to Government in 2014, the bid aims to ensure that the food and drink business sector across the region is recognised for the contribution it can make to growth and jobs.
Edwyn Martin, of Produced in Kent, welcomed the University’s involvement. He pointed to the Leading Food 4.0 report, developed by the National Centre for Universities and Business, as highlighting the food economy as one of the UK’s greatest success stories – but with vast potential unfulfilled.