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Agrifood

Agrifood

Business support for agriculture, food and horticulture sectors.

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Paul Ward Email Paul Ward

Agricultural and Horticultural Adviser

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Greater Lincolnshire plays a vital role in the UK’s food supply chain – producing over 30% of England’s vegetables and housing more than 75% of the UK’s fish processing industry. Business Lincolnshire is proud to support the businesses at the heart of this thriving sector.

From agriculture and horticulture to food processing, packaging, cold storage and logistics, we provide tailored support to help agri-food businesses innovate, adapt and grow. Whether you’re responding to changing consumer expectations, navigating sustainability goals, or investing in smart technologies, we’re here to connect you with the advice, funding and specialist expertise you need.

We’re here to help:

  • Innovation and R&D support – connect with innovation programmes and partners to help develop new products, adopt advanced technologies, and access funding for R&D.
  • Supply chain optimisation – access guidance and tools to improve logistics, cold chain management and sustainability across your supply network.
  • Business growth and funding advice – tailored support to identify grants, investment and scale-up opportunities for food and farming businesses.
  • Workforce development – access training, apprenticeships and upskilling opportunities through partners like the National Centre for Food Manufacturing.
  • Sustainability and net zero – help to reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, and transition to greener business models.
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AGRI-FOOD GRANTS, FUNDING AND SUPPORT

Food and Drink Innovation Gateway

The Food and Drink Innovation Gateway is a one-stop shop that gives food and drink manufacturers of all sizes an opportunity to unlock access to the adoption of automation, digitalisation and new technology.

Grant

The Centre for Food and Fresh Produce Logistics

Fully funded support, training and innovation for Boston Town businesses in the relevant sectors

Funding

The Lincolnshire Farm Support Programme

Helping farm businesses strengthen, grow, and plan for the future.

Funding

UOL National Centre for Food Manufacturing

Support for SME's in the Agri-Food Supply chain, those who grow or manufacture, food & drink produce. Assistance with research, trials, NPD, training and specialist business advice from recognised industry experts.

Funding

AGRI-FOOD FUTURES

UK Food Valley

The Agri-food Sector is strategically important. The Greater Lincolnshire area has an international reputation for food, fish and farming and has one of the largest concentrations of food manufacturing, research, storage and distribution areas in Europe.

The UK Food Valley ecosystem unites the food industry, food supply chain, technology suppliers, and government and academia to position our food cluster hub as a world-class investment location.

UKFV

Agri-food research

Uiniversity of Lincoln – Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology (LIAT)

The Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology (LIAT) based at the University of Lincoln’s Riseholme Campus, is home to a working farm with specialist research facilities. LIAT’s team bring together sector-leading expertise in a diverse range of areas such as; artificial intelligence, robotics, engineering, crop science, environmental sustainability, food manufacturing, product development and supply chains with goals of supporting and enhancing the future of food and agriculture productivity, efficiency, and sustainability through research, education, and technology.

INNOVATION

University of Lincoln National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM)

The NCFM is a satellite campus of the University of Lincoln, situated in Holbeach in South Lincolnshire and is dedicated to helping the sector innovate, and work with employers and partners towards this goal, aided by partnerships with leading equipment suppliers and outstanding specialist facilities, food factory, and cutting-edge automation.

AGRI-TECH

Eagle LAB Farm at University of Lincoln

Barclays Eagle Labs has partnered with the University of Lincoln to open an Agri-tech hub focusing on the future of farming.

Located at the Riseholme campus in Lincoln, the Eagle Lab houses state-of-the-art facilities, including a robotics lab, a demonstration packhouse and a model refrigerated supermarket aisle. These are complemented by traditional facilities, including 80 beef cattle and 160 sheep to develop cutting-edge Agri-tech research, and helping UK agriculture to become the most digitally enabled farming industry in the world.

Agri-Food Business Support – FAQs

No. We support businesses across the full agri-food chain – including food manufacturers, logistics providers, packaging businesses, and agri-tech innovators.

Yes. Several of our programmes, including the Cold Store resource, help businesses cut emissions and reduce energy use, especially in energy-intensive sectors like food storage and transport.

You can access technical support, innovation expertise, and workforce training designed specifically for food and drink manufacturers – including help adopting automation or AI in production.

The Lincolnshire Farm Support Programme is designed to help farmers adapt and plan for long-term success in a changing policy environment.