The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Strategy expected to increase sector value to £500 million
A Scottish pigmeat strategy launched at the Royal Highland Show aims to double the value of the sector to £500 million in the next 18 years.
A key target is to process more of the pigs that are produced in Scotland.
Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said that talks with the UK Government about a replacement for the EU’s processing and marketing grants funding scheme had already started as this funding has underpinned much of the recent meat industry development in Scotland.
He said: “It’s essential that whatever happens after Brexit we have a replacement of this scheme to enable our meat sector to further grow and become sustainable.”
Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) chief executive Alan Clarke said there was a huge opportunity for the industry as Scotland was only 25% self-sufficient in pigmeat.
“Our pig industry has a great track record of adopting innovation and embracing new technology,” he said.
“To meet the targets set by the strategy it is important that we continue to seek out opportunities to improve efficiently to maximise profit and continue to further underpin our health and welfare credentials,” he continued.
The formation of an industry leadership group to drive and monitor progress is one pillar of the strategy. It also aims to reduce the use of antibiotics and zinc oxide and make progress on eradicating disease and enhancing welfare.