Businesses and projects celebrating locally produced food and drink are being encouraged to apply for a share of £100,000 of funding.
Grants of up to £5,000 from the Connect Local Regional Food Fund are available to support collaborative food and drink projects during their early stages.
Rural Economy Secretary, Fergus Ewing, commented: “This fund has already played an important role in promoting and encouraging great local food initiatives. I am delighted a further £100,000 is now available to new collaborative businesses and projects to help promote Scotland’s world-leading food and drink sector.
“Not only do these grants help local food initiatives and local economies grow, they also promote the importance of locally produced food and drink and the environmental benefits of sourcing produce close to home.”
Applications for the new round of funding close on December 8, 2019.
With green issues rising up the agenda, Kellogg UK has announced an ambitious target to reduce organic waste by 2030.
It has said that by 2030, the Manchester headquartered business will cut its organic waste – which includes food waste – by 50 per cent as part of its global Better Days corporate commitment to reduce its impact on the planet. Organic waste occurs during food production due to things like cleaning processes, quality control or changeover when making different products using the same equipment.
Chris Silcock, Head of Kellogg UK, explained: “Our goal is to always prevent waste occurring in the first place. That’s why today we are saying we are going to reduce the amount of organic waste we produce by half. Where we do create food waste which is edible and safe to donate, we are committed to putting this to good use and helping to feed people. That’s why we’ll continue to donate as much of this as possible to organisations like food banks and community feeding schemes. Where we can’t donate food, we will find new innovative ways to use it, like using ingredients in other foods and selling to breweries, who can turn it into beer.”
“Only after these possibilities are exhausted we will consider sending organic food waste to animal feed or to make energy. That’s because we believe, where possible, food waste which is safe to donate should be used to help feed people in need. Where it is still edible but not completely perfect, we are committed to exploring innovative food and drink-based alternatives.”
The vegan and free from brand, Free From Fellows, has won at The Great British Food Awards.
The brand’s Gummy Bears won in the confectionery category at the accolades, chosen by John Whaite, the winner of the Great British Bake Off in 2012.
Lisa Gawthorne, Co-Founder of Bravura Foods, which owns the brand, commented, “We are naturally really pleased about this award that joins many more as we continue or quest to make more confectionery vegan friendly.”
Organic & Natural Business magazine