Scottish Government
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Healthy Eating
Roseanna Cunningham, Minister for the Environment, will meet with organisers and producers behind the Fife Diet project today.
The Fife Diet encourages people to sign-up to eating food from the region, monitor their progress and share their experience. Working closely with suppliers and local farmers, the group aims to shorten the supply chain, reduce food miles, create innovative distribution services and re-localise produce.
Speaking ahead of the visit Ms. Cunningham said:
"The number of people signing up to the Fife Diet is testament to itself - over 800 people are now participating. I hope to see this number grow even further in support of the rural communities and businesses involved.
"I am delighted to once again see Mike and Karen Small, the founders of the Fife Diet, and meet some of the valuable producers who make this scheme possible. In light of Scotland's first ever Food and Drink policy, launched at the Royal Highland Show, it is ventures such as this that will allow Scotland to showcase its produce and enhance its worldwide reputation as a land of food and drink.
"It's encouraging to note that the Fife Diet team has grown recently to meet increased up-take from the public. Some of the Fife Diet producers have previously received Scottish Government grants, allowing them to grow their business and expand workforces.
"While contributing to sustainable economic growth, the scheme also has positive environmental benefits, with the overall project making an estimated saving of 1,737 tonnes of CO2 by reducing food miles."
Mike Small, founder of the Fife Diet, said:
"We know that Scotland is now leading the world in climate change legislation by our aim of 42 per cent reduction in emissions by 2020. Now we need to examine the details of how we achieve that. Re-localising our food system is a major part of that, and its a process that we also know has very real benefits to the local economy and health benefits too in eating more unprocessed food.
"The Fife Diet is free to join and you don't need to commit eating 100 per cent from Fife any more, you just need to be interested in sourcing more of your food locally. We can help with information, events and food offers.
"We're also delighted to be supported by the Climate Challenge Fund, who granted us with over £144,000, which has meant that we have been able to create these new posts in growing and research."
