Date: 24th November 2010

This week SEStran is hosting a ground-breaking event in the development of exporting foodstuffs, at the Royal Terrace Hotel, in Edinburgh.

 

Connecting Food Port Regions, is a multi-million Euro project involving 14 partner organizations from 5 European Countries including regional authorities, knowledge institutions and ports. Their aim is to optimize and coordinate food logistics chains in the North Sea Region.

 

The project will examine ways of strengthening the food industry by developing practical solutions to moving products across the North Sea region, prioritizing sustainable modes of transportation including rail and sea transport wherever possible.

 In addition, Food Port aims to stimulate technological innovation in the food supply chains. Research will be undertaken to develop new packaging methods, which prolong the shelf-life of fresh products, like fish and shellfish. 

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said :

 The Connecting Food Port Regions event ties directly with the Scottish Government’s aim of increasing sustainable economic growth” 

"I thank  all partners  involved with this project for their efforts and look forward to  Scotland benefitting from their  collaboration.  Increased use of roadways of the sea, such as the Rosyth to Zeebrugge Service, offer a valuable opportunity to improve  food and other supply chains, whilst reducing emissions.'  

SEStran Chair   Russell Imrie added : 

“The central aims and priorities of the project are;  to optimize coordination of food logistical chains; improve accessibility and transportation systems across the region; strengthen the food industry overall and promote the development of multi-modal and transnational transport corridors across the north sea”. 

“It is the first step towards positioning a the north sea  Region as a true food hub. Scotland is a major exporter of foods and the potential benefits to our economy wild be enormous.”  

Liesbet Pauwels, Food Port Project Manager, West Flanders,  added :  

“Food Port is about rationalising the transport and logistic chains in the food sector, by realising green transport corridors. It enhances efficiency and effectiveness in the food supply chains, which is beneficial to all companies who engage for new, green ways of transporting . As these new ways of transporting result in lower carbon foot print and less congestion, this project is a gain for all regions involved.“   

ENDS

SEStran - South East of Scotland Transport Partnership - is one of seven Statutory Regional Transport Partnerships (RTP) created by the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 and is a partnership of eight local councils covering the Borders, Clackmannanshire, East Lothian Midlothian and West Lothian, Edinburgh, Falkirk and Fife.

For further information, please contact:

Andrew Dougal, SEStran Communications Officer

T: 0131-524-5161

M: 07889-010-291

E: Andrew.dougal@sestran.gov.uk  

Notes 

Project partners  

·         South East Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran)

·         University of Hull 

 ·         West-Flanders Development Agency,

·         the Port of Zeebrugge,

·         the Port of Oostende and VOKA –

 ·         Chamber of Commerce West-Flanders

 ·         University of Southern Denmark,

 ·         Port of Esbjerg, Port of Odense,

·         Development Council of South Jutland

·         Port of Kristiansund and Nordmore

 ·         (Norvegian partner);

·         Region Västra Götaland,

·         Chalmers University and Port of Göteborg    

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