Food and drink

A new programme which places food tourism at the heart of the recovery of Scotland’s tourism and food and drink sectors has launched, with the appointment of 25 Regional Food Tourism Ambassadors.

A project to gauge the impact of environmental and climate change on Scotland’s iconic wild salmon population has begun.

Numbers of wild Atlantic salmon returning to Scotland have declined over the last four decades by around 40%, impacting the conservation status of many rivers in the country.

Forth Valley Food Festival will return for the fourth year in a row this October.

Following the success of last year’s launch, the Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) ‘Growing Food Together’ Fund is once again offering a cash boost to community growing projects in Scotland.

A scheme will provide up to £715,000 of financial support to pig producers affected by the temporary closure of the abattoir at Brechin earlier this year.

A multi-million pound package of support has been invested to help tourism and hospitality businesses recover from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Delivered in the first 100 days of the new Scottish Government, the support is part of a wider £129 million investment in the sector which has been particularly hard hit by the pandemic. The package of support includes:

The public are being urged to help shape the first ever local food strategy produced by the Scottish Government.

A major new project will tackle pests in potatoes through the protection of clean land and the management of land already infested with pests.

An independent review of how fish farms are regulated is underway in a move to make Scottish aquaculture legislation one of the most effective and transparent in the world.

Professor Russel Griggs OBE has been appointed to lead the first phase of the review.

Applications have now opened for a fund to support Scottish food and drink suppliers and producers to invest in future growth.

The annual Food Processing, Marketing and Cooperation Grant Scheme (FPMC) will enable investment across a range of projects including buildings and equipment, feasibility studies, co-operative ventures and the improvement of supply-chain efficiency.