Funding for farm business welcomed

Fairlie Farming Company is among food and drink businesses across Scotland benefitting from a share of more than £10 million to improve supply-chain efficiency, increase production and run feasibility studies.

A total of 33 businesses, large and small, will receive grants ranging from £16,000 to £1.4 million from the Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation (FPMC) grant scheme.

FPMC is one of a number of funding schemes which make up the Scottish Rural Development Programme.

The scheme provides grant funding to businesses, or groups of businesses, within the Scottish food and drink sector to enable them to develop or create food processing facilities, including buildings and equipment and market products in home and export markets,

A total of £294,990.80 has been awarded locally to the Fairlie Farming Company, which produces, packages and markets a variety of crops.

The business is seeking funding to create a new potato grading and washing facility with onsite optical sorting.

Other projects Scotland-wide include capacity building for a dairy farm to meet the growing demand for its soft cheese, the setting up of a new venison processing operation and the installation of solar panels at a butcher premises to reduce carbon footprint and minimise electricity costs.

The Scottish Government hopes the funding will help producers continue to deliver high-quality, innovative and nutritious products while securing and creating jobs, and boosting the economy.

Mr Dey said: “This Scottish Government is absolutely committed to supporting Scotland’s rural economy, which is so important locally here in Angus.

“This £10 million funding for projects across the country will enable many producers to make real strides forward in a range of areas and help them to thrive.

“I was pleased to see Fairlie Farming Company, a local family business here in Angus, among those recipients.

“I hope that the funding of their project will help ensure a strong future for the business.”