The recent event hosted to showcase the potential of the UK Food Valley has brought to focus the convergence of military and aerospace technology with food production. Among the esteemed presenters was Janet Bellamy, Associate Professor of Digitalisation and Emerging Technology at The National Centre for Food Manufacturing in Holbeach.
The UK Food Valley, consisting of food and farming business clusters, centres of excellence, and specialized facilities, collectively strives to accelerate growth and sustainability in the industry. The event, coordinated by Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Lincolnshire County Council, and Team Lincolnshire, brought together 70 industry professionals at the Lincolnshire Show.
Ms. Bellamy engaged the audience with insights on Project Butterfly, a collaborative initiative involving aerospace and automotive companies. The project focuses on the exchange of technologies and intelligent data tools to achieve energy reduction in manufacturing processes. She was accompanied by Dr. Anne Richmond from Moy Park and Aaron Gilbraith from GKN Aerospace, who also presented their respective contributions.
Moy Park’s Project Butterfly, aimed at reducing carbon emissions in manufacturing, has garnered funding from the UK Research and Innovation’s Sustainable Smart Factory competition. Ms. Bellamy underscored the significance of such events in nurturing face-to-face interactions and facilitating collaboration. According to her, building relationships and establishing that initial introduction are pivotal for successful collaboration.
The event also aimed to facilitate connections for future collaboration across the industry to address common challenges such as sustainability, innovation, and technology. Dr. Ben Murphy from B-Hive Innovations shared valuable insights on the utilization of military underground sensing technology to detect potato yield. Additionally, Richard Meredith from Dyson Farming elaborated on innovative farming practices, highlighting the close collaboration between the farming business and Dyson engineers to produce responsibly at scale. Notably, their anaerobic digesters utilize crops grown on the farm to generate enough energy to power the equivalent of 10,000 homes.
The event, initiated by Ruth Carver, Chief Executive of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, also featured presentations by Neal Juster from the University of Lincoln and the Greater Lincolnshire LEP. The gathering proved to be an invaluable platform for industry players to showcase their work, share challenges, and explore opportunities for collaboration.
In conclusion, the integration of military and aerospace technology with food production presents promising avenues for innovation and sustainability in the industry. Events such as these facilitate meaningful exchanges and lay the groundwork for future collaborative endeavors. As the sector continues to evolve, harnessing advanced technology and fostering collaboration will play a pivotal role in addressing the challenges it faces.