High-level backing for sector’s net zero plan
THE new net zero commitment by the Scottish Food & Drink Partnership aims to make a real difference by helping to guide decisions and pool resources to meet the sustainability challenges of the present and the future.
It will help to put in place the mechanisms needed to accelerate progress towards becoming carbon neutral while at the same time allowing the industry to hold itself to account.
The strategy has been backed by high level figures within the sector and in government. The rural affairs secretary, Mairi Gougeon, said at the launch during COP26 in Glasgow: “Scottish food and drink ranges from iconic traditional produce through to new and innovative brands.
“It has rightly earned an enviable reputation for quality at home and abroad. Consumers are taking an increasing interest in where their food comes from.
“People rightly want to be assured that their purchases are the best quality, are locally and sustainably sourced and produced and are helping to address the environmental impacts of production and processing.”
She added that the sector employed more people in manufacturing than any other as well as making a huge contribution to exports and supporting thousands of jobs across Scotland.
“We want it to have a sustainable future. It has a key role to play in helping deliver our net zero ambitions and I am delighted it is rising to the challenge. This initiative is a very welcome addition to the measures taken towards 2045 carbon targets.”
David Thomson, Chief Executive of Food and Drink Federation Scotland and Chair of the Net Zero Taskforce, said: “Climate change poses some very real challenges to our industry and it is critical that we take ownership of our role in combating it.
“This will inevitably involve changing some of our methods and doing things differently, but change is the only way we will be able to continue to produce world renowned food and drink in Scotland for generations to come.”