Scottish Conservatives has announced it will redirect unspent money from the existing Circular Economy Investment Fund to support farm efficiency and food production. Projects such as anaerobic digestion among those included.

The new Food Producers Fund would drive down costs for rural businesses whilst increasing recycling, energy recovery and maximising value from waste.

The Circular Economy Investment Fund has allocated approximately £5 million so far even though the total funding available to small and medium sized businesses is £18 million.

The Food Producers Fund aims to focus on:

Maurice Golden, Scottish Conservative shadow environment secretary said: “Our Scottish Conservative food producers fund would give rural communities and farmers the ability to recycle as close to home as possible.

“Indeed, the SNP ban on plastic incineration will leave farmers, particularly those in rural communities, with very few viable options for recycling.

“The Scottish Conservative plan would remove the barriers to recycling that many farmers and rural communities face.

“Simply put, our plan would work with farmers and communities to enable them to recycle and reduce waste; that’s good for all of us.”