News article
13 May 2008
Scottish FDF Hosts Joint Symposium on Sustainability in the Food Supply Chain
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PRESS RELEASE
The Scottish Food and Drink Federation (SFDF), the Institute of Food Science and
Technology and The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland have today
joined forces to host a symposium on sustainability in the food supply chain.
The Symposium, which takes place at the Hilton Edinburgh Grosvenor Hotel, will
highlight the need to strike the right balance between the economic,
environmental
and social aspects of issues such as sustainable development, in a time
when
the
Scottish Government is focusing on developing a National Food Policy.
The
event
begins with a keynote address by Jim Mather MSP, the Scottish
Government
Minister
for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism, on the policy and
regulatory
context.
Other speeches will cover: the Food Standards Agency Scotland's approach to
sustainable development in policy making; Peter Jones of BIFFA will talk about the
utilisation of food waste; Dr David Baines of Acumentia will discuss food science
and chemistry in the science of global food supply; FDF's Callton Young will
outline FDF's Five-fold Environmental Ambition; and Angus Maciver of Morrisons will
give a retail perspective on sustainability issues.
Enterprise Minister, Jim Mather, said:
"Our overarching purpose of Government is sustainable economic growth.
We
all
want to enhance Scotland's reputation for food and make the nation
healthier
and
wealthier, with production benefiting communities and the
environment. To
succeed
in today's globally competitive market, food businesses
are
already
working with
greater collective vision and getting more
appropriate
and
more
consistent
support from Government and our agencies.
"We are currently considering the responses to our national discussion on
food
and it's clear there is far more to food than what we put on our plate -
not
just
food production and consumption but health, education and tourism.
We
will
set
out our next steps in June to develop Scotland's first-ever
food
policy that
helps
support a sustainable food industry."
Flora McLean, SFDF Director said:
"This year's topic reflects the importance of the sustainable
development
agenda to the future growth and prosperity of the food and drink industry.
As
the
largest manufacturing sector in Scotland, a successful food and drink
industry is
a
vital component of a healthy Scottish economy. Therefore, at a
time
when we
are
all increasingly aware of our environmental
responsibilities, it
is important
to
ensure that both the Government and industry works
to
strike
the right
balance
between environmental, economic and social
factors.
Setting
environmental
improvements in an economic context should
help
us
to
deliver
progress without
damaging the
underlying
competitiveness of
business."
More Information
For Members
Notes to Editors
- SFDF works to improve the environment in which companies operate: be it
legislative, economic, social or political, and aims to help maximise industry's
competitiveness. Central to SFDF's work is seeking constructive dialogue with the
Scottish Government on the core priorities of infrastructure, environment, skills,
food
and health. This year's symposium topic reflects the growing importance of
the
sustainable development agenda to the future growth and prosperity of the
food
and
drink industry.
- The following speeches are available if you would like to request one:
- Jim Mather MSP, Minster for Enterprise, Energy & Tourism - The Policy and
Regulatory Context
- Angus Maciver, Morrison Supermarkets - A Retail Perspective
- Callton Young, Food and Drink Federation - Environmental Ambitions: A Retail
Perspective
- Duncan Oswald, Ecodyn - The Challenge: Setting the Context, Striking the Right
Balance
- Peter Jones, BIFFA - Utilisation of Food Waste
- Dr David Baines, Acumentia Consulting Group - Food Science and Chemistry in the
Science of Global Food Supply
- Bill Adamson, Food Standards Agency Scotland - FSA Approach to Sustainable
Development in Policy Making.
- Copies are available of SFDF's submission to the Scottish Government's
consultation on developing a National Food Policy for Scotland.
- FDF's Five-fold Environmental Ambition
For more information please contact:
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