Food for Life plan gives Cairngorms a tasty boost

The food and drink sector in the Cairngorms National Park has received a boost with the launch today of an eco-friendly food initiative.

Food for Life aims to build a sustainable food economy across the Cairngorms by encouraging an increase in food production and processing across the park, and an increased consumption of food and drink produced in the Cairngorms.

It is hoped this will reduce food miles, boost tourism and retailing, and encourage people to consider a healthier diet.

Launching the initiative, rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead said: "Scotland's food and drink sector is both a huge success and vital to our economic recovery. In 2008, the supply chain employed over 369,000 people across Scotland and in 2007, generated value added of almost 9 billion for Scotland's economy. We are celebrating Scotland's Year of Food and Drink, and Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight - a fitting occasion to launch the'Food for Life' plan for the park."

Delivery of the 'Food for Life' project is being co-ordinated by the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA), which has set aside 55,000 for it, and a wide range of partners, including Soil Association Scotland. David Green, the CNPA's Convener said: "The launch of this initiative is helping to give people what they want. Research by VisitScotland has shown that there is increasing consumer demand for locally-produced food and drink and the Food for Life plan will go some way to making sure that this happens more and more.

"There are long-term benefits to be gained, including health improvement, skills development and employment, business diversity, increasing retention of wealth and carbon reduction through localised food chains."