Wholesalers happy with parties’ plans

Scotland’s meat wholesalers have welcomed the absence of manifesto proposals by any of the main political parties to cut livestock numbers as a “welcome boost” to the processing sector.

In an assessment of the merits of the political parties ahead of next week’s Scottish parliamentary elections, Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW) executive manager Martin Morgan said his sector had “feared the worst”.

“The national herd has stagnated for too long and the measures they intend to adopt to reinvigorate production to enhance the sector’s sustainability are worthy of all our support,” he said.

Focusing first on the SNP, Mr Moran said the party had “pulled a couple of rabbits out of the hat”, including the promise of a new Scottish food body, attention to marketing and promotion, and a commitment to the setting up of a single veterinary fields service agency. “It would allow the creation of a farm-to-fork inspection and a monitoring regime to supplement current quality assurance protocols.

“Streamlining the deployment of vets is long overdue, with such a move helping to maximise their professional expertise and, importantly, take cost out of the current Food Standards Scotland delivery model.”

Turning to the Scottish Conservatives, Mr Moran pointed out their main farming pledge is to produce (within 100 days of the election) a future agriculture policy blueprint. There are also plans for new support for young farmers and new entrants, efforts to boost demand for Scottish produce and a new National Food Strategy.

In his assessment of the Greens’ manifesto, Mr Moran focused on the party’s plan to revamp direct support for livestock farming, with qualifying conditions and targets for farmers to meet.

“There will also be compulsory farm audits, a new Food National Bill based on the health, social and environmental impacts of food, a strong focus on organic and local produce procurement by public bodies and a statutory ‘Right to Food Act’; all overseen by a Food Commission,” he said.

Mr Moran highlighted the Scottish Liberal Democrats promise for a rapid reform of the farm payments system.

“The Lib Dems will also introduce their own Good Food Nation bill to help the sector become more resilient through greater public procurement, supporting youngsters to get into farming and helping to reduce livestock emissions,” he said.

Of Scottish Labour, Mr Moran said the party had policies designed to attract rural dwellers and ensure farm payments support sustainable land use.

He added: “They will also offer clarity to farmers and crofters to maintain current funding until 2024.”

NEW BOOST: Meat industry production could benefit from the clearer political policies.