Health and Nutrition

We’re nurturing the health of our communities through education, collaboration, and innovation in the food system.

Health, Wealth and Diet

We want a food system where nutritious, affordable food is accessible to everyone. The impact of poor diet on our health system is significant.

Horticultural and plant-based food producers play a critical role in solving a national health crisis. Most of us still fall short of the recommended daily fibre intake and five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

Obesity rates in Kent and Medway are also rising, with up to 65.8% of adults in the region classified as overweight in 2022. There is also great disparity in health outcomes and life expectancy across our region.

Improving Health Outcomes
with a Better Food System

At Growing Kent & Medway, we’re connecting research specialists, businesses, and policymakers to enhance the nutritional value of our food and strengthen the productivity of our fresh produce and horticulture sectors.

We’re investing in research and innovation that supports a healthier, more sustainable future, including:

Plaint Proteins

Increasing UK production of crops like chickpeas and lentils.

Education

Engaging young people about food provenance and nutrition.

Product reformulation

Reducing high levels of salt, fat, and sugar.

New Product Development

Bringing new plant-based, nutritious products to market.

Functional Foods

Enhancing foods with beneficial vitamins and minerals.

Sustainable Growing

Supporting growers to increase the production of fruit and vegetables.

New Ingredients Case Studies

Woman (Cecilia Wu) smiles, holding two bottles of Super Bio Shot. Display banner says "Trust Your Gut, Feel Your Best." Indoor event setting.

Scaling Science-Backed Gut Health Drinks for Retail with Cecii Health

Cecii Health utilised our business support ecosystem to transform a handmade fermented juice shot into a scalable, market-ready product. By combining technical R&D from our Food Accelerator with expert business mentoring, founder Cecilia Wu has refined her formulation, become a finalist for the Nourish Awards, and is now scaling up for national retail.

Growing Kent & Medway

4 min read

Person (Nimisha Raja MBE) in a hat lectures a group in orange coats and blue caps in a food factory. Focus on attentive expression and industrial setting.

Turning Surplus Fruit into Sustainable Food Powders with Nim’s Naturally

Nim's Naturally, a Kent-based snack producer, is achieving its zero-waste ambition, supported by Growing Kent & Medway, by turning surplus dried fruit and veg into a new range of products. This R&D project developed recipes for affordable meal kits and snack bars, creating new revenue streams and tackling the challenge of food waste in the agri-food sector.

Growing Kent & Medway

4 min read

Woman (Marie-Laure Prevost) in lab coat and hairnet examines a red fermented snack closely in a lab setting with bright lighting, conveying focus and precision.

Creating Gut-Friendly Snacks from Rescued Fruit with Fermenti

Fermenti, a start-up founded in Kent, utilised our support ecosystem to transform fresh produce by-products into shelf-stable, gut-friendly snacks. By collaborating with Nim’s Naturally through one of our medium-sized grant programmes, they successfully developed a low-carbon manufacturing process for fermented treats that retains essential live cultures.

Growing Kent & Medway

4 min read