Food and drink

An invitation to tender for the provision of an Innovation Support Service for the agricultural, food and drink, and forestry sectors has been published by the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Rural Network Support Unit at Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Economy in the Scottish Government is looking for a provider to set up and run an Innovation Support Service.

Have your say on a plan setting out key priorities for the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park by taking part in a public consultation.

Views are currently being sought on the draft National Park Partnership Plan 2018-2023 which sets out a vision for how the Park Authority and its partners will work together to further develop the benefits the National Park can offer Scotland's environment, society, culture and economy.

First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon has launched a new, ambitious strategy to drive growth in Scotland’s farming, fishing, food and drink industry, setting a bold new vision for the sector.

Skiffs, trails and augmented reality. You might ask what these three things have in common.  Well, they were among the many ideas discussed at the LEADER Cooperation Exchange event on 15 and 16 March in Ayrshire. 

Pupils from Inchture Primary School in Perthshire recently visited the factory where Mackie's Crisps are produced.

The trip to the factory at Taypack, near Errol, was organised by the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) as part of their mission to give every school pupil in Scotland the chance to learn about food, farming and the countryside.

You can now enter the Nature of Scotland Awards 2017 in nine categories including the Food and Farming Award and Marine Conservation Award.

These annual awards recognise and celebrate excellence, innovation and outstanding achievement in Scottish nature conservation.

The award categories are:

Open Farm Sunday webinar for host farmers

Designed to help host farmers creat safe, engaging events for this year's Open Farm Sunday on 11 June this dedicated Scottish webinar lasting just 20 minutes can be enjoyed from the comfort of your office or home. It will provide  guidance on how farmers can get involved, new ideas for the day and recommendations from experienced hosts.

You will hear from:

Aquaponics in Western-Pomerania, Germany
Name of organisation/business: 
University of Rostock
Funding: 
European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (ELER) and national funding (Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Consumer Protection of Mecklenburg Western Pomerania, MV, Germany).

Schoolchildren in Perth and Kinross are taking part in a project encouraging classes to grow and harvest their own potatoes from scratch.

The Mr Jazzy Potato Project, organised by the Perth & Kinross Initiative of the Royal Highland Educational Trust (RHET) and sponsored by WCF Horticulture, aims to show the children the gradually unfolding story of the potato and how food and farming are linked.

The current funding round for the Food Processing, Marketing and Cooperation (FPMC) scheme closes for applications on 5 March 2017.

The FPMC scheme can provide support to suppliers and producers to contribute to the Scottish Government’s overall vision for food and drink in the country, which is to be a Good Food Nation, where it is second nature to produce, buy, serve and eat fresh, healthy food.

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