EXCLUSIVE Chris Fletcher An initiative to communicate the quality and safety of Scottish food will be showcased at this year's Royal Highland Show which runs from June 20-23. Food for Life ­ Food for Thought is the brainchild of RHS president and chairman of Dawnfresh Seafoods, Alastair Salvesen. He said: "With backing from the Scottish Executive, the Food Standards Agency through to Quality Meat Scotland, Scottish Quality Cereals and Scottish Water, this project has heavyweight appeal. "It will illustrate the lead Scotland has taken on farming and food assurance, and explain to the public the safeguards that are in place, from primary production, through processing to consumption." Food for Life ­ Food for Thought will be an educational activity trail involving up to 30 trade stands at the show in Edinburgh. "By following a trail, visitors can find out about a particular food or company or organisation's role in safe food production. Prizes are also up for grabs for those who crack a coded phrase by picking up clues at each stand," said Salvesen. At the start of his RHS presidency last July, Salvesen said he was dismayed by revelations of the poor grasp that young people north of the border had of where food comes from. "These are tomorrow's consumers and they need to be inspired and thus better informed about the controls and standards that are in place in Scotland to deliver a quality, safe product from plough to plate." Salvesen set about meeting all sectors of the Scottish food industry during his year's term as RHS president, and he praised the support he received to put together his initiative, which has received funding from 12 leading bodies. Salvesen said he envisaged Food for Life ­ Food for Thought as the beginning of a continuing educational process, which could be adopted throughout Britain. {{NEWS }}