Since it was launched three years ago, Project HELIX has resulted in a £110 million boost to the food and drink industry in Wales.

The pan-Wales strategic initiative is delivered by Food Innovation Wales and aims to boost innovation and efficiency in the Welsh food and drink industry.

Using state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, the scheme – which is funded by the Welsh government and the EU – has provided technical support and bespoke training that’s helped develop hundreds of new products, helped businesses innovate and be more productive, improve skills and reduce waste in the supply chain.

According to a new report, Project HELIX has, to date, resulted in the creation of almost 300 jobs, 241 new markets accessed, and 366 new products developed.

“The success of Project HELIX shows how collaboration between academia, industry experts, government and producers on the ground can make such a big difference,” said Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths.

“A £110 million boost, new jobs created and others safeguarded, new products developed, new businesses launched, a more skilled workforce – all this is helping to further enhance Wales’s great and growing reputation in the international food and drink industry.

“As we prepare for the challenges Brexit will bring, innovation is making the food and drink industry more resilient and it plays a key role in our Welsh success story.

“I would urge producers and manufacturers to explore what support is available through Project HELIX and how its expertise and advanced technical facilities can be of benefit to them.”

The latest figures come hot on the heels of the announcement that Food Innovation Wales has become a network partner of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Food, Europe’s leading food innovation initiative.

Supported by Welsh Government funding, this will establish a dedicated EIT Food presence in Wales, linking the Welsh industry to a wider consortium of key industry players, start-ups, research centres and universities from across Europe.

Over the course of the next 12 months and beyond, Food Innovation Wales will continue to support Welsh food and drink business to grow profitably through innovation by developing new products and markets; provide the Welsh food and drink industry with access to world leading innovation; deliver the Project HELIX outputs and support the Welsh Government with world-class facilities and expertise to provide a landscape in which food and drink companies can prosper.