Scottish Government

Priority Code

Business Viability and Competitiveness Priorities

Relevant Packages

ARG04

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

• capital investment for keeping livestock, especially cattle, on land within crofting tenure or set aside for new crofts under crofting tenure
• capital investment particularly where facilities can be shared between more than one croft, e.g. common grazing
• capital investment in land improvement, buildings, provision of access, services and facilities for innovative crofting enterprises or small farms (not in crofting tenure) units under 60 Hectares where:

• Proposals which fit well with the National Forest Land Scheme

ARG05

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 slaughter houses) distributors, caterers (including public sector), local consumer outlets, and the hospitality industry
• assist with the establishment of improved and sustainable direct marketing across Argyll 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 biomass/biomass utilising wood grown in Argyll including local wood fuel clusters and other measures as outlined in the Scottish Biomass Action Plan
• support the development of new products such as biomass, quality food and drink, and tourism
• encourage small-scale woodland owners, such as farmers and community woodland groups, to add value to woodland products derived from their woods
• encourage greater coordination between small-scale woodland owners, managers, producers, and suppliers to develop collective supply and marketing (e.g. www.argyllwood.co.uk; Association of Scottish Hardwood Saw millers).

ARG06

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

• develop new distinctive products derived from the Argyll area, e.g. mature lamb initiative, Tiree seaweed potatoes
• support the development of biomass/biomass utilising wood grown in Argyll including local wood fuel clusters and other measures as outlined in the Scottish Biomass Action Plan
• encourage use of Argyll produce at organised events
• involve collaborative marketing of Argyll products
• help to establish local food hubs - that seek to share costs in marketing, distribution, and administration enabling the supply of local produce to caterers and the hospitality industry both within and beyond Argyll
• retain 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, wood fuel supply chains and businesses, and forest recreation businesses.

ARG07a

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 within the agriculture, horticulture and on shore aquaculture industries
• will demonstrate the potential of alternative production systems particularly:

• improve timber quality through higher silvicultural standards including use of genetically improved planting stock and increasing commercial broadleaf production to develop Argyll's contribution to Scotland's hardwood timber sector
• provide transport links and partnership working with bodies such as the Argyll Timber Transport Group and which link effectively with the Strategic Timber Transport overview for Argyll and align well with the objectives of the Scottish Timber Transport Fund
• enhance farm woodland management , particularly under-managed woods, where proposals will lead to increasing productive potential, improvements in timber quality, value-added processing (e.g. kiln-drying, stress grading) and development of local markets for wood products.

ARG07b

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:

• involve the conversion to and maintenance of certified organic production, processing and marketing methods.