£4m boost for Scottish food industry

The money includes funding for a major one million pound scheme which will see food producers working together to access new markets, boost profitability and put more Scottish food on consumers' plates. The scheme will be run by Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS) Limited based in Midlothian. Other grants include: • £170,000 for Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) to relaunch Scotch beef in France, Belgium and the Netherlands following last year's ban on exports in the wake of Foot and Mouth Disease • £20,000 to help the Rannoch Smokery develop innovative new products • £130,000 for Simon Howie Butchers to develop a new range of healthy eating meals Speaking from a food fair in Paris where he was helping to promote Scottish food exports, Mr Lochhead said: "Scotland's food and drink industry is worth around £7.5 billion to the Scottish economy and employs around 350,000 people. Food and drink accounted for over a quarter of Scotland's manufacturing exports in 2007. "We must do all we can to continue to support this vital industry, particularly in the current economic climate. Today's grants are part of a £75 million investment the Scottish Government will make in the industry over the next five years as we move towards our target of growing the value of the industry to £10 billion by 2017. "At the same time we are taking huge steps forward through the development of Scotland's first-ever National Food and Drink Policy. This too will boost business, as well as putting more Scottish food on consumers' plates and delivering major health and environmental benefits. "Scotland's food and drink is renowned throughout the world. Our products stand for quality, beautiful landscapes, clear air, pure water and good, honest husbandry. They help define our nation and that is why they are playing a huge role in our promotion of Homecoming, helping to lure people back to Scotland in 2009 to sample them at source."