Leading members of Scotland’s agriculture sector joined the UK and Scottish Governments in Edinburgh yesterday to investigate key issues facing the agri-food supply chain – and help identify potential solutions.
Topics for discussion included immigration and access to labour, fairness in the supply chain and supporting economic growth.
While these are policy areas reserved to the UK Government, agriculture is almost entirely devolved to the Scottish Government.
UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said, “Food and farming are vital to the country and this is an important opportunity for the industry and government to discuss issues and identify creative solutions.
“There is much we can and are doing for the sector through the UK Government’s Plan for Change to turbo-charge economic growth and deliver a decade of national renewal and opportunity for all. But I appreciate that there are a number of highly complex issues facing Scottish agriculture and I look forward to a constructive discussion.
“We will continue to engage with this vital industry and we will continue to strengthen relations with the Scottish Government, respecting the fact that agriculture policy is largely devolved.”
Scottish Government Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said, “The Scottish Government is committed to supporting our agriculture sector in sustainable food production whilst also contributing to nature and climate targets. We are reforming how we support farming and food production, towards our Vision for Agriculture for Scotland to become a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture.
“Recent and ongoing global events show the fragility of food security, and we are taking action to improve Scotland’s food resilience and strengthen our supply chains. We will continue to work with the UK Government and across the sector to monitor the threats to the supply chain and mitigate against future shocks and impacts on food security.”
NFU Scotland President Andrew Connon said, “We look forward to underlining the importance of farmers and crofters to the food and drink industry and to rural communities and hearing what actions the UK Government will take to help address the issues seriously impacting our sector currently.
“The Scottish food and drink manufacturing sector has grown by more than 35 per cent over the last decade and now contributes £5.2 billion to the Scottish economy, while accounting for over one third of Scotland’s manufacturing turnover.
“Office for National Statistics data, analysed by the Food and Drink Federation, also showed that the industry provides around 47,000 jobs in Scotland’s 1,220 food and drink businesses.”