Fife Councillors have agreed to allocate funding to support the activities of a new Fife Food Tourism Network.

The private-sector led food and tourism network will aim to raise the awareness of Fife as a destination with high-quality food; facilitate innovation and product development support for Fife chefs and other food procurers and, develop supply chain relationships from producers to end users - in short putting Fife on the map.

Chair, Councillor Tony Martin said: "We have much to celebrate in Fife - award-winning eating establishments, increasing numbers of farm shops, regular farmers' markets and popular local food events - and therefore much to promote to visitors.

"There is a strong desire and commitment from food and tourism businesses to start working collaboratively to capitalise on potential business opportunities. The funding allocation of £36,000 will help support the growth of green tourism in Fife. Greater collaboration within the local food and tourism sectors will result in an increase in the use of local products, reducing food miles travelled and subsequently the carbon footprint of tourism businesses in Fife. It will also aim to increase the volume and value of visitor numbers and spend within food tourism businesses, thereby increasing the value of food tourism to the Fife economy."