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European Agriculture Minister visits Scotland
02/04/2009
The European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development will be in Scotland for a two-day visit to learn more about those who live and work in the countryside.
Mariann Fischer Boel's tour, hosted by Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead, will incorporate visits to farms, a community hall, an auction mart and a food business.
Ms Fischer Boel will arrive in Edinburgh today and spend two days travelling through Perth and Kinross, the Highlands and the north of Scotland.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Mr Lochhead said:
"I am delighted to have the opportunity to provide the Commissioner with a valuable insight into our environment and rural communities which are such a fundamental part of Scotland's identity. We have built into her programme opportunities to learn about food and drink production and the raw materials provided by our farmers and crofters working our rich land.
"The visit is also an opportunity for Ms Fischer Boel to hear about some of the challenges facing our livestock and wider agriculture sectors. With some crucial discussions and decisions to be made in Europe in the coming months and years, this is a great opportunity to once again make sure Scotland's voice is heard."
Ms Fischer Boel said:
"I'm really looking forward to coming back to Scotland. It's a beautiful country and one where I always receive a truly warm welcome. It'll be a great opportunity to see some innovative projects, showing how entrepreneurial farmers can find new business opportunities through quality produce, excellent marketing and original thinking.
"It will also be interesting to see our Rural Development policy in practice, when I visit a project and meet some of the people involved, and to see the real challenges of farming in some of Scotland's Less Favoured Areas. And I won't deny that I'm also looking forward to a wee nip of some of Scotland's finest whiskies!"
The itinerary includes:
Day One
- Loch Leven's Larder, Kinross
- Boat of Garten Community Hall, Inverness-shire
- Balliefurth Farm, Near Nethybridge, Grantown-on-Spey
Day Two
- Achdregnie Farm, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch, Banffshire
- Thainstone Auction Mart, Thainstone Centre, Inverurie