The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) have launched an online resource that aims to make it easier for food and drink manufacturers in England, Scotland and Wales to adopt technology and grow their business.

The Innovation Gateway, the FDF’s new online tool, will match firms in the sector with the “expertise to support them with their technical challenges.” The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and the University of Lincoln are amongst the institutes on hand to advise businesses as part of the programme.

FDF said: “The partnership will provide valuable insights into the technological needs of the industry, helping improve and better target the support available.”

In 2020, the UK food and drink sector’s procurement of robots increased by more than a third on 2019 and nearly £800 million was invested in research and development and software. According to the FDF, rising costs, labour shortages and stretched supply chains are putting increased pressures on businesses today seeking to make longer-term investments. 

FDF said that utilising existing and new technologies “is vital for food and drink businesses to overcome these challenges” and to increase productivity, reduce waste and improve sustainability. In addition, the FDF believes that technology can create “high-skilled green jobs” for the sector, and support the FDF’s ambition for the sector to be Net Zero by 2040.

Improving productivity and sustainability

FDF chief executive Karen Betts said that the new initiative will provide “practical support to food and drink companies across the UK to help them to harness the opportunities that technology can offer.”

Betts added: “By investing in digital capability, food and drink businesses will be able to improve the productivity and sustainability of our companies and our supply chain – critical investments both in future growth and in the resilience of our industry.”