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Climate Change: Are You Prepared?

FREE workshops for small businesses:

The South West Climate Change Impacts Partnership (SWCCIP) are offering a programme of 8 half-day FREE workshops for small businesses in many sectors includingfood and Drink. Attending a workshop will help you identify the threats and opportunities of climate change for your business. For further details please click here.

Farming Lobby Pack

Agriculture is a vital part of the Devon economy and wider community. These are difficult and changing times and this sector needs support to ensure local food production continues to exist and grow for the future. There are many issues facing modern farmers including recent outbreaks of disease, changes to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), fair trade for British farmers and changes in support for upland hill farming, to name a few. Devon County Council chairs a group made up of representatives of the farming community. This group worked together to produce the Devon Farming Lobby Information Pack. The pack gives farmers and food producers easy access to up to date information. This information can then be used to lobby decision makers to raise awareness and shape opinions and help ensure a sustainable future for Devon's farming sector.

Food Innovation Service

The Food Innovation Service has been set up to provide assistance to small medium food processors and manufacturers and agri-food diversified enterprises throughout the South West of England.

The Agri-Food Innovation Centre at Duchy College opened in the autumn of 2007 and boasts excellent facilities to help the regions businesses gain access to processing equipment, technical support and industry specific training. Click here to view the training courses and other opportunities available for your business.

South West Agricultural Resource Management (SWARM) - Innovation Fund Launched

This new Innovation Fund has been set up to encourage and help pioneering farmers and growers to adopt and pilot new technology and methods which will improve farm profit and competitiveness through more efficient use and management of resources. Click here for links to the relevant website/scheme guidelines and Grant finder report.

How Foodie Devon and Devon County Council support the local food sector, and can help your business

Devon County Council is passionate about making Devon England's greenest county. Supporting Devon's food and drink sector is key to this because buying local food:

- Protects the environment (by reducing the distance your food travels)- Strengthens Devon's economy

- Protects Devon's landscapes

- Supports rural communities and

- Sustains Devon's exceptional and unique products

Click here to find out more about Devon County Council's food projects.