Scotland Targets Global Health Market
15 February 2011
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead has announced a new £4m project to help Scottish food and drink companies tap into global opportunities in the rapidly expanding health and nutrition sector.
Scottish Enterprise is funding the Food and Health Innovation Service, which will help 400 Scottish companies over the next five years to access Scotland's leading research in food and health to develop and launch new or improved products.
The project aims to build on Scotland's international reputation for quality natural products such as berries, fish, meat and oats, as well as research expertise at institutions such as the University of Aberdeen Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, Queen Margaret University, the Scottish Crop Research Institute (soon to be part of The James Hutton Institute) and Heriot-Watt University.
Speaking at the official launch event last week, Richard Lochead said: "Scotland has a justifiably proud heritage of excellence in research, not least in the food and drink arena.
"I'm delighted that with this £4m investment we will be harnessing this expertise to provide the science, innovation and technology which are vital to sustainably growing the industry.
"There is already an excellent story to be told about what is going on behind the scenes in our food and drink sector and the benefits of today's investment will stretch far beyond Scotland's borders.
"It will help 400 companies over the next five years access Scotland's leading research in food and health to develop and launch new or improved products.
"Enhancing Scotland's reputation as a land of food and drink with ongoing advances in research will ensure we are well positioned to take advantage of emerging trends and the latest innovations.
"I want to see more of Scotland's food firms developing new products, capturing new markets and, ultimately, adding to their success."
Scottish Enterprise has appointed a consortium led by international food specialists Campden BRI to work with Scottish companies to identify relevant research for their business and support them in scoping and developing new healthy products.
Its partners in delivering the project include the University of Aberdeen Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, Food Processing Faraday Partnership, Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society and Interface - the Knowledge Connection for Business.
You can learn more at Scottish Enterprise
