According to the Welsh government, the EU-funded Project Helix has added £185.6 million to the Welsh food and drink sector, helping it develop hundreds of new products and create new jobs.

Project HELIX, which began in 2016, is a pan-Wales initiative delivered by Food Innovation Wales, a partnership of three food centres based in Anglesey, Ceredigion and Cardiff.

It aims to support Welsh companies to “develop innovative products from concept, design, development and manufacture, through to the consumer’s shopping basket.”

Latest figures produced by the government show the project has helped create 447 jobs and protect a further 2,306. According to the Welsh government, more than 380 businesses and 943 individuals throughout Wales have been supported, of which 228 are new business start-ups. It has seen the development of 1,240 new products and helped producers access 778 new markets.

“Ability to innovate more important than ever”

Rural Affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths, visited the Food Technology Centre in Llangefni during the summer to hear more about Project HELIX. She said: “The success of Project HELIX shows the importance of collaboration between academia, industry experts, government and producers to boost innovation, create jobs, build skills and launch new businesses.

“As we recover from the pandemic and face the pressing challenges of a changing climate, the ability to innovate and seize new opportunities will be more important than ever to our Welsh food and drink businesses.”