Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020
Helping you to help Wales grow
It is our aim to grow sales in the food and drink sector in Wales by 30% to £7 billion by the year 2020.
As a big part of our Action Plan for the food and drink industry, we’ve devised a Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 to provide support to you and your business so that you can be a part of that ambition.
The Programme could provide £953m of European and Welsh Government funding to rural Wales between 2014 and 2020. This will enable the food, farming and forestry industries to improve productivity, diversity and efficiency, and promote strong, sustainable rural economic growth and community led development. Priorities include fostering knowledge transfer and innovation, boosting competitiveness, promoting food chains, and improving prosperity and economic development. There is emphasis on encouraging sustainable land management, efficient use of natural resources, and climate action to safeguard the environment.
One particular element of this programme will be The Food Business Investment Scheme. It is designed to help primary producers of agricultural products in Wales to add value to their outputs by providing support to those businesses that do first and/or second stage processing activities. It is also designed to improve the performance and competitiveness of their businesses; to respond to consumer demand; to encourage diversification and to identify, exploit and service new emerging and existing markets.
The Food Business Investment Scheme covers capital investments in processing equipment along with some associated costs and supports projects that offer clear and quantifiable benefits to primary producers, either directly or indirectly, in the agriculture sectors providing the raw materials.
The Rural Business Investment Scheme - FOOD (RBISF) is a capital investment scheme to support projects that offer clear and quantifiable benefits to the food and drink industry in Wales. The scheme is open to existing, start up, micro & small food and drink processor’s and manufacturers throughout Wales (currently not eligible under the Food Business Investment Scheme).
Click here for further information and details
The Food Business Investment Scheme has recently undertaken a review, the publication of the research report can be seen here.
For more information on these schemes, contact us on FoodBIS@gov.wales, RBISfood@gov.wales or call 0300 060 3000.
