Welcome to
Agri
Food
Where the possibilities are
Unlimited
AgriFood Sector
The Norfolk & Suffolk region leads the UK in the agricultural technology sector.
Businesses, research and support extends from plant biotechnology and food and drink production to agricultural machinery, inputs and expertise. Our scientists are working at the leading edge of new discoveries and technologies, in areas such as precision farming, animal health, crop disease control and prevention, and food in human health. They are exploiting the latest knowledge in gene editing, AI, data science, robotics and marine science to bringing these into commercial applications.
Some of the largest food and drink providers have chosen Norfolk and Suffolk for production facilities across a wide range of products including sugar, sauces, flavourings, snacks, peas, meats, seafood, petfood, malt, beer and cider, as well as ingredients, packaging and refrigeration. Through the Port of Felixstowe, we are well placed for efficient international supply chains. Agriculture is changing fast and our companies are helping. Our region is home to innovators in farm machinery, harvesting, drones, animal health, fertilisers, seed and crop management.
The sector is supported by world-class research institutions on the Norwich Research Park, including the John Innes Centre, Earlham Institute, The Sainsbury Laboratory and Quadram Institute. Specialist expertise is spread all over the region. The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) in Lowestoft, Suffolk is the UK’s most diverse centre for applied marine and freshwater science and research, providing innovative solutions for the aquatic environment, biodiversity and food security.
Animal health firms are clustered in and around Newmarket, Suffolk while several large pharmaceutical companies are in Haverhill, taking advantage of links to the Cambridge life sciences cluster.
Investment & business opportunity
Major commercial opportunities are available at the Food Enterprise Park, near Norwich. A large scale area of 46 acres of development land, located in a food enterprise zone with planning permission for food related business, has plots of 5,000 to 500,000 sq ft. For more details about this opportunity and other agri-food developments, contact us on info@norfolksuffolkunlimited.co.uk.
Large AgriFood sector
Larger than
any comparable
LEP area
Employs nearly 80,000
People in this sector across N&SU
50%+ growth in R&D
employment
since 2007
(UK 19%).
Sector
Success stories
01.
Aviva Solar Carport
One of the largest solar carports in the UK was completed for Aviva by Norfolk-based RenEnergy. And the stats are impressive.
02.
Zero Taxis
Norfolk based 100% fully electric taxi company with zero emissions.
03.
04.
Crop Systems
An industry-leading innovator in modern crop storage.
AgriFood Sector
Spotlight on AgriFood
From cutting edge biotechnology to global branded food manufacturing, Norfolk & Suffolk’s £3.5 billion agri-food sector is a leader in Europe.
Agri-TechE
The sector is brought together by Agri-TechE, an independent, member-led organisation that facilitates knowledge transfer in agriculture and horticulture, and involves innovative farmers, food producers and processors, scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs.
AgriFood tech skills plan
Meanwhile our Agri-food Tech Sector Skills Plan aims to provide more than 7,000 new workers by 2024. In Suffolk the Orwell Food Enterprise Zone and the Stowmarket Enterprise Park offer advantageous locations for companies in the sector, as does the Easton Food Enterprise Zone in Norfolk.
AgriFood Council
The Norfolk and Suffolk Agri-food Industry Council provides strategic leadership for the sector in the region and you can view its membership here. It produces a regular newsletter with updates about the latest developments in the region’s industry and you can download the latest newsletter pdf here.
Sector
Innovation
AgriFood Sector
Innovation clusters
& Centres of excellence
CEFAS
Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science
Norwich Research Park
Centre of Biotech
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