Regional Delivery Plan
Think Farming and Food, developed through collaboration with key regional partners including East Midland Rural Affairs Forum (EMRAF), East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and other stakeholders, is the East Midlands’ framework for action to achieve the region’s vision.
The Regional Delivery Plan was first launched in 2003 and its objectives were revised in 2006.
The revised objectives for action in the East Midlands are to:
- influence and take forward the East Midlands farming and food sector to achieve a sustainable future for our farming and food industries
- achieve environmental, social and economic benefits from sustainable land management
- encourage businesses and individuals to develop a skills base that supports innovation, market drive, forward looking and sustainable activities
- facilitate and encourage supply chain development and connection across the food chain
Regional Governance and Delivery
The East Midlands has three themed groups, each with an industry chair, to take forward regional activity. They are:
- Skills and Business Support
- Land Management
- Food Chain
Each of these groups are steered by an overarching Delivery Plan Management Group (DPMG), also chaired by an industry representative. The three groups have developed action plans with priorities and outcomes, which have been agreed by the DPMG, for 2006–08. GOEM is an active member on each of the steering groups and provides them with secretariat support.
In addition, we support the work of a Skills and Business Support Delivery partnership and Agricultural Waste Stakeholders forum to take forward the farming and food agenda in the East Midlands.
Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI)
The PSFPI is a cross cutting initiative to promote government policies on:
- climate change
- waste minimisation
- fairly traded goods
- small- and medium-sized enterprises
- greater choice for ethnic customers
- better conditions for catering staff, and
- thriving, vibrant, and sustainable communities
We work with public sector food purchasers, including local authorities, to encourage the procurement of food in a manner which supports sustainable development, develops local food supply chains and does not discriminate against local suppliers.
Communications
Key farming and food messages and information dissemination are delivered at regional level through:
- a regional website - www.thinkfarmingandfood.co.uk
- press releases and case studies produced by the Central Office of Information (COI) - www.coi.gov.uk
- collaboration with industry, regional agencies and other partners
