A review of the structure and policies of the English Regional Development Agencies and their relevance to the objectives of the MDC

England's Regional Development Agencies play an increasing role in the country's economic development. Funded by central government, their spending priorities are outlined within their Regional Economic Strategies and Corporate Plans.

This report details those parts of these strategies and plans which are of direct relevance to dairy farming and to dairy produce on a region by region basis.

The Regional Development Agencies share a number of similarities; most particularly in their adoption of central government themes such as 'sustainability' and in their focus on objectives such as social inclusion, health, 'innovation', and the development of 'high knowledge content' sectors. Food production, processing and marketing is increasingly seen as equivalent to other manufacturing sectors and no more or less deserving of support. The report concludes that bodies supporting the farming and food industries must therefore demonstrate the value of their industries against these alternative objectives of the Regional Development Agencies if they are to recieve support. .