The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
M&S gears up for 10th year of farming awards
Producers: Champions of sustainability and innovation
Several top producers from across Tayside and Fife are in the running to win at the 10th Marks & Spencer Farming for the Future awards.
The initiative, which champions sustainability and innovation, seeks to reward farmer producers that improve efficiency, environmental performance and ethical practice.
“Farming for the Future is about us helping the farmers and growers in our supply base to make their businesses more resilient and profitable,” said an M&S spokesman.
“This ensures they can continue to deliver quality and innovation for the long term whilst reducing their impact on the world around them, which in turn, this delivers security of supply for M&S.”
Producers from across Scotland impressed the award judges with their “forward thinking” approach across the livestock, soft fruit and vegetable sectors, from investment and welfare to engagement with their local communities.
Award winners, covering the Outstanding Producer, Young Producer, Innovation Producer and The Prince’s Countryside Fund Award categories, will be announced during the opening day of the Royal Highland Show on Thursday. Outstanding Producer Angus-based soft fruit grower Matthew McIntyre has been shortlisted within the Outstanding Producer award category.
Matthew, who farms along with his father, Euan, grows 120 acres of fruit, including 30 acres of cherries, at his family’s farm of Wester Essendy, in Blairgowrie. The McIntyres supply M&S through Berry Gardens Ltd.
By implementing a combination of changes to their farm system, the family has successfully extended its growing season and can now supply Scottish cherries to M&S into October – much later than any other supplier in the world.
Up against Matthew is Alan Meston, who manages his own beef rearing enterprise in Dunnottar. Alan has been nominated for his commitment to animal health and welfare and increasing the efficiency of his business. Young Producer Blairgowrie farmer Andrew Houstoun, 26, will contest the Young Producer category. He runs a 160-strong suckler cow herd from Glenkilrie Farm, Blacklunans, in partnership with his father and mother, David and Morag.
The farm also supports a flock of 1,100 breeding ewes and as an M&S Select Farm, all of the Houstoun’s lambs are procured for M&S through Scotbeef Ltd.
Andrew has been praised for showing a commitment to farming in balance with the local environment and implementing news ideas to improve the long term sustainability of the farm.
Matthew Anderson, 24, works for Dawnfresh Farming Ltd as assistant farm manager at Tervine fish farm in Uddingston, to produce high quality trout for M&S customers.
Matthew impressed the judges by implementing a number of ideas to further enhance the environmental credentials of the farm. Innovation Producer East of Scotland Growers’ agronomy manager Andrew Orr has been short listed within the Innovation award category.
The EOSG cooperative includes 18 farmer members, producing a range of vegetables, including broccoli, which are supplied to M&S through Kettle Produce.
Andrew has been recognised for his implementation of new technology and
drive to discover ways to help improve soil health.
Andrew has been shortlisted against Scottish Sea Farms, which runs salmon farms across the west coast of Scotland, as well as Orkney and Shetland.
The company is the exclusive supplier of Lochmuir Salmon to M&S.