Food and drink summit kicks off next week

Ministers from all four of the UK Governments are to attend the meeting in Edinburgh on Monday 11 May which will be chaired by Rural Affairs and Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead. Topics discussed will include the need to develop sustainable policies in the face of international food shortages, the impact of the economic downturn on the food and drink sector - including security, access and affordability, and global challenges around population growth. Speaking ahead of Monday's summit, Mr Lochhead said: "We are determined to develop a food policy fit for the longer term that allows industry the opportunity to flourish. I am delighted that such an important and symbolic meeting is taking place in Scotland. "Food and drink is one of our key strengths as a nation. The sector supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and is worth over £7.5 billion to the economy. "The threat of international food shortages and the current economic downturn means food security, access and affordability are more of an issue now than they have been for a generation. But the fundamentals of quality, health and environmental sustainability remain strong, themes that are absolutely central to our new national food and drink policy."