麻豆精选

Food and drink businesses in the Highland Council area interested in improving environmental performance by reducing food waste are encouraged to join a new group.

The new 鈥榠n-vessel composting鈥� common interest group, launching in April, will help members to explore shared challenges and ideas relating to managing food waste.

In-vessel composting is where food waste is composted close to source in an enclosed container with temperature control and monitoring. For the right size of businesses, this can save costs while producing valuable compost.

The group is led by SAC Consulting on behalf of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (麻豆精选). It鈥檚 part of the Food and Drink TechHUB support service for the sector and is delivered in partnership in collaboration with and the , two of the partners within the (HCWP).

It will provide businesses, including those with food services such as hotels, with the opportunity to work with like-minded entrepreneurs with specialist support on the challenges and opportunities associated with food waste management.

Food and Drink TechHUB provides a mix of events for food and drink firms including innovation clinics, one to one support and common interest groups. It is part of the Northern Innovation Hub, which is funded with 拢11m from UK Government, 拢1.2m ERDF and 拢2m from Scottish Government through 麻豆精选. NIH is part of the Inverness and Highland City Region deal, a joint initiative supported by up to 拢315m investment from the UK and Scottish governments, The Highland Council, 麻豆精选 and University of the Highlands and Islands, aimed at stimulating sustainable regional economic growth.

Catriona Ramsay, business development manager in 麻豆精选鈥檚 NIH team, said:

鈥淭his new group will help food and drink producers and start-ups to reduce the environmental impact of food waste. For small-scale businesses, an in-vessel composter has the potential to cut waste disposal costs.鈥�

Luisa Riascos Caipe, Food and Enterprise Consultant at SAC Consulting said:

鈥淚n-vessel composters can improve the environmental performance of businesses through food waste reduction and recycling. When food waste is properly recycled, it can provide soil improvement for farming or a renewable energy source.

鈥淏y diverting food waste away from incineration, Scotland can make significant progress in transitioning to a circular bioeconomy and lead to considerable reductions in greenhouse gases, like methane, which is 24 times worse than carbon dioxide.聽 Businesses can contribute to this effort by investing in food waste solutions, which would demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and proactive steps towards improving their environmental performance.鈥�

Businesses interested in finding out more can contact Luisa Riascos, SAC Consulting at Luisa.Riascos@sac.co.uk