Scotland’s Food and Drink Academy

That the Parliament welcomes the launch of the Academy; understands that this is the first major investment from the Scotland Food and Drink Partnership’s £5 million recovery plan, which aims to support over 200 food and drink businesses of all sizes, from start-ups to established brands, through a series of three programmes to help the businesses  in the Aberdeen South and North Kincardine constituency and across the country sell themselves, build their brands, and thrive and compete in response to the effects of COVID-19 and Brexit on the industry; understands that the programmes are integral to the Ambition 2030 plan, which aims to see farming, fishing, food and drink grow to become Scotland’s most valuable industry, recognised at home and abroad as a model of collaboration and a world leader in responsible, profitable growth through the promotion of a wider story around the country as a land of food and drink, around heritage, responsibility and people who care about their products, communities and customers, and notes the calls encouraging businesses in the industry to explore what the Academy can offer to help nurture or accelerate their growth.