A Fife farm which is to open a buffalo mozzarella processing plant has been awarded more than £576,000 from the Scottish Government.
The Buffalo Farm, at Boglily, near Kirkcaldy, is among 11 businesses to share £3.59 million from the Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation grant scheme.
Crafty Maltsters, at Auchtermuchty’s Demperston Farm, is to get £144,000 to create a maltings facility to create high-end malts for Scotland’s craft brewers.
Other recipients in Courier Country are Arbuckle Poultry, at Angus, receiving £40,000 for a new access road and egg packaging equipment, 2 Sisters Poultry, Perth and Kinross, getting £1.39m for an integrated processing facility, and Peter Marshall & Co, also Perth and Kinross, which will upgrade a building to create a processing facility with its £71,000.
The Buffalo Farm, run by Steven Mitchell, is to begin producing a range of dairy products using its new herd of milking buffalo.
A planning application for the plant is to be submitted to Fife Council shortly.
The grant scheme is aimed at allowing local companies to invest in their infrastructure, upgrade or replace existing facilities and purchase new equipment.
Daniel Milne, director of Crafty Maltsters, said he was delighted the Scottish Government was supporting the development of the new business.
He said: “It has been a crucial step in allowing us to realise our ambitions: improving the sustainability of our family farming business, adding value to the craft brewing and distilling sector and raising the importance of Scottish cereals in the supply chain.”
Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: “We are doing everything we can to support Scotland’s successful food and drink industry, which continues to go from strength to strength.
“Our long-term ambition is to double the industry’s value to £30 billion in the next 12 years.
“Each of the companies receiving an award already plays an important role in their local economies, but are demonstrating great ambition to grow and improve their businesses.
“We’re giving them a helping hand to realise that ambition, creating jobs and driving forward Scottish industry while ultimately providing consumers with a higher quality end product.”
