Food and drink

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon recently launched the Scottish Charity Awards 2020, encouraging organisations from across the country to apply. 

The annual awards are organised by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and celebrate the fantastic work that charities and community groups do every day to help those in need and raise awareness of important causes. 

A new podcast dedicated to rural Scotland and it's various industries has launched today, Monday 13 January.

The OnFARM – Food, Agriculture and Rural Matters podcast has been launched by Scene & Herd PR and Marketing and is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and a new dedicated website.

Scene & Herd PR and Marketing are working with industry experts, successful business owners and key organisations to increase public and inter-industry awareness of Scottish rural enterprise and its stories.

Moray LEADER and Windswept Brewing Co have been working in cooperation with Belgian farming and brewing partners to develop a new product line, which will be brewed with ingredients grown in Moray. The project is funded through Moray LEADER and GAL Burdinale-Mehaigne; a LEADER territory in Wallonia, Belgium.

The project aims to create a short supply chain between locally based farmers and breweries. The aim is to enhance product and produce value and reduce carbon emissions to help create sustainable locally economies.

Rural businesses from across the country have been announced as finalists for the Scottish Rural Awards 2020.

The Scottish Rural Awards celebrate the enterprise, innovation and community spirit of those who live and work in Scotland’s countryside. Shortlists have been announced for 12 award categories including a new award for Best Countryside Digital Innovator.

A further 30 events have been announced as part of the Year of Coasts and Waters 2020.

The Themed Year will see a wide variety of events take place right across the country -- from coastal-inspired opera to a seaweed festival!

Events supported through round two of the Year of Coasts and Waters event fund include:

The fourth round of funding from the Connect Local Regional Food Fund (RFF) is currently open for applications.

The Connect Local RFF is a grant to support growth in Scotland's local/regional food and drink sector.

The fund will support projects and initiatives in Scotland which celebrate and promote locally sources and produced food and drink, in line with the priorities of Ambition 2030. 

Stirlingshire businesses, from butchers and bakers to local food makers, are invited to share their ideas for a new local food network.

Forth Valley & Lomond LEADER and Stirling Council want to hear from local food businesses across the Stirling region that are interested in working together to promote local food.

Developing a Stirling (region) Local Food Business Network

Opportunity to meet other local food businesses, hear from a successful local food business network (Food From Fife), and explore the potential of a collaborative marketing group for local food businesses here Stirling.

The line-up of speakers for the first-ever Scottish Highlands and Islands Rural Economy Conference -- the SHIREs Conference -- has been announced.

The Forth Valley Food Festival saw over 15,000 people enjoy a variety of events from foraging to farm tours over ten days.

The annual food trail and promotional campaign offered nearly 50 opportunities to enjoy Forth Valley's local larder at 12 locations across the region.

Forth Valley Food Festival is led by Forth Valley and Lomond LEADER. 

Douglas Johnston, Chair of the local LEADER programme said:

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