Food and drink

€​470 million of Horizon 2020 funding is available for research projects on farming, food and the bioeconomy. 

Horizon 2020 is the biggest European Union Research and Innovation programme ever with nearly €80 billion of funding available over seven years (2014 to 2020) – in addition to the private investment that this money will attract.

Calls open in October 2019.

Over one hundred school pupils enjoyed a potato education day in Perthshire recently.

The event was organised by ADHB and the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) and was hosted by Bruce Farms in Perthshire as part of their Strategic Farm programme managed by AHDB.

Almost 2000 pupiles have taken part in a project growing and harvesting their own potatoes.

This year, over 60 classes from across Perth and Kinross took part in the Mr Jazzy Potato Project, which shows the children the gradually unfolding story of the spud and how food and farming are linked.

Top of the crops in the 2019 competition and winning the cup was the P2/3 class from Abernethy Primary School who won the ‘Heaviest Crop of Potatoes’.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has launched a food education programme for children and young people at the Royal Highland Show. 

The Good Food Futures programme is backed by £1 million of investment and will teach children and young people about Scotland's food industry.

A new working group has been formed by the Scottish Government to develop the future policy on farming and food production.

Thr group is made up of producers and comsumer and environmental organisations and will consider how we use Scotland's natural assets to produce food and mitigate the impact of climate change. The new group will also look at how best to support such activity is Scotland has to leave the European Union.

Stirling High was a hive of activity on Thursday (6 June) as the local food community gathered for the launch of Alive with Local Food: a joint initiative, by Stirling Council and Forth Valley and Lomond Leader, to support and develop the local food sector. The Scottish Rural Network were also there, camera's at the ready - so stay tuned for our upcoming film from the event!

A new local food strategy for the Stirling area will be launched at a free event on 6 June.

The 'Alive with Local Food' strategy will be unveiled by Forth Valley & Lomond LEADER and Stirling Council at Stirling High School on Thursday 6 June 2019 at 4.30pm.

The strategy aims to support a vibrant local food economy, invest in people, build a resilient future for the sector and showcase the best of the local larder.