 HGCA is helping to promote innovation and new product development through a variety of initiatives.
Innovation is a key part of HGCA's Enterprise Awards which provides match funding to companies that are developing new products, or opening new markets for existing products.
Robust consumer research is an important factor in new product development. Understanding consumer tastes and lifestyle choices can help to both inspire NPD and verify the viability of ideas once they have been developed. Through the dunnhumby Academy of Consumer Research, HGCA has access to a database of 12 million shoppers showing details of their shopping behaviour. To find out more information including how you can access this information click here.
For growers seeking markets, and wanting to connect to other parts of the chain, HGCA's Interactive Cereals Map can provide the information you need to link up with processors in your region. In addition, the HGCA Recommended List, ensures that varieties are added to the Lists when they are considered to have the potential to provide a consistent economic benefit to the whole industry.
In a questionnaire responded to by over 1200 levy-payers, which listed 30 potential areas for R&D investment, development of industrial uses came top.
The strategy aims to help UK growers to benefit from reduced petrochemical feedstock use by encouraging the use of cereal and oilseed feedstocks and in biofuels and biopolymers.
R&D Strategy 2007 link
To fulfill the strategy, the existing programme of Industrial Uses R&D is being expanded. The main funding route is through open competition, details of which can be found at www.hgca.com/calls. General enquiries about the availability of funding should be sent to shona.campbell@hgca.com.
Across the R&D programme HGCA encouraged the involvement of industry in research projects to demonstrate industry pull and ensure research is relevant.
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