The Scottish Government

Priority

Code

Business viability and competitiveness priorities

Relevant Packages

BOR04

Active management or the use of the land for productive purposes, by supporting capital investment in small-scale crofting or crofting-type production.

BOR05

New or expanded demand-led markets, through encouraging producers, processors, retailers and others in the supply chain to work together and build capacity. Particularly proposals that:

• encourage greater co-operation between (particularly food) businesses that increases the efficiency of the local food supply chain and provides better returns to the primary producer, e.g. by sharing costs in marketing, distribution and administration
• shorten the links between producer and consumer, e.g. between processors (especially finishers and slaughterhouses) distributors, caterers (including public sector), local consumer outlets, and the hospitality industry.
• assist with the establishment of improved and sustainable direct marketing across Borders and beyond.
• facilitate the use of local produce at all sizes of events (e.g. meetings, conferences, food festivals, music and other cultural events)
• support the development of woodfuel/biomass utilising wood grown in the Borders including the development of local woodfuel clusters and other measures as detailed in the Scottish Borders Woodland Strategy.
• support the development of new products such as quality food and drink, tourism, pharmaceuticals and woodfuel/biomass.
• encourage small-scale woodland owners, such as farmers, to add-value to woodland products derived from their woods.

BOR06

Local wealth and reduce food/timber miles (especially in relation to food, drink, woodfuel and biomass), through expansion of local sale and add value processing of primary agricultural and forestry products. Particularly proposals that:

• support for expansion of local sales and added value of primary agricultural and forestry products and businesses including through adding cultural and environmental value.
• support the development of woodfuel/biomass utilising wood grown in the Borders including the development of local woodfuel clusters and other measures as detailed in the Scottish Borders Woodland Strategy
• encourage local food processing aimed at local marketing initiatives to reduce food miles
• encourage a stronger, more diverse local forestry sector including maintaining a significant timber production capacity, retaining and developing local timber processing facilities where appropriate,
• develop opportunities particularly amongst small-scale woodland owners, such as farmers, to add-value to woodland products through markets closer to their woodlands, e.g. quality wood craft products, woodfuel supply chains and businesses, and forest recreation businesses.
• seek to develop the use of Borders timber in areas such as construction, furniture, fencing, etc. as an alternative to imported materials.

BOR07a

a. Enhanced viability and improved quality of primary products, where such will improve economic viability, through improved management practices (e.g. improved timber quality through good silviculture), particularly in areas that will most benefit from sustainable community development, employment and rural diversification, and through improvements in transport infrastructure, e.g. agreements developed in partnership with regional Timber Transport Groups. Particularly proposals that:

• improve the management and performance of food production including developing the potential of alternative production systems
• focus on improving timber quality through highest standards of good silviculture, e.g. use of genetically improved planting stock
• enhanced woodland management, particularly for farm woodlands and under-managed woods, where proposals will lead to increasing productive potential
• support for improved management practices aimed at ensuring compliance with additional standards requirements
• encourage better access to markets such as through improvements in transport infrastructure

BOR07b

b. Organic conversion and maintenance - develop the production, processing and marketing opportunities for the organic sector in Scotland and in doing so deliver biodiversity, pollution control, energy efficiency and soil protection benefits. Particularly proposals that:

• encourage conversion to, and maintenance of, organic farming methods where they contribute to greater energy efficiency, particularly in areas of arable production