Small steps matter and we can all vote with our feet

As we emerge from the pandemic, and prepare for Brexit, we must ensure that the positive lessons on food security and standards are preserved.

As food producers, we take great pride in what we produce here in Scotland. We meet some of the highest production and welfare standards in the world and provide assurances that guarantee the delivery of quality Scottish food and drink to the table.

At the start of the pandemic, I pledged that Scottish farmers and crofters would do everything they could to ensure that the nation’s plates and glasses remained full and we have stepped up to the challenge.

Our commitment has seen those supermarkets, stores and shops able to trade safely in the past five months rewarded with soaring sales for Scottish produce and growing customer numbers. And now, our restaurants, cafes, bars and takeaways are able to ensure Scottish food and drink tops the menu.

The frailties exposed in our food chain during Covid give us an opportunity to drive change for the benefit of farmers and of consumers. The way the food chain currently operates has had a profound impact on the returns to farmers for many years.

We believe that Scottish and UK shoppers want a retail sector that delivers value for money, protects the environment, supports home-produced food and drink and rewards those that supply it fairly and equitably. With the ongoing support of Scottish shoppers, we can ensure that risk and reward across the whole food supply chain – from farm gate to supermarket shelf – is shared fairly.

Small steps can make a big difference and the public has the ability to vote with their feet and support those businesses where the best interests of Scottish food and farming in the future are being served.

A bull and calf at Mossgiel Farm in Mauchline, Ayrshire, in April