Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) News
Digging deep in times of disruption
BETWEEN Brexit, the ongoing war in Ukraine and the turbulence of the Covid pandemic, this period of political uncertainty and significant industry change has proven not to be temporary. As a result of the associated challenges facing businesses across the Scottish red meat supply chain, many of the country’s vital food producers, could not be criticised for asking: where does this leave us?
The Scottish red meat sector, and those embedded in it, are coming to terms with a somewhat frightening outlook. Russia’s invasion of agricultural powerhouse, Ukraine, has hurled the significant issue of food security into the spotlight, and simultaneously caused a seismic shift in global red meat markets. With inflation in agriculture, or ‘agflation’, as we are all too keenly aware still sits above 20 per cent, squeezing the margins of farm businesses as feed, fuel and fertiliser prices continue to soar.
With these steep accelerations in costs now baked into the system, long-term cost pressures on inputs are inevitable, contributing to an overall feeling of industry uncertainty. And with many businesses across the supply chain facing significant cash losses in the coming year and an asyet undefined agricultural policy, many are apprehensive about what the future holds and where to focus and invest.
QMS’ job remains the same no matter how tricky the operating environment gets: as the leadership organisation for the sector and custodians of the Quality Assurance scheme, our purpose is to develop, support, promote and protect a profitable and sustainable red meat industry.
Under our new chief executive, Sarah Millar, QMS is constantly looking at ways to steer the sector through this period of unpredictability and beyond, identify opportunities along the way and ensure that red meat producers are continuously supported.
Scottish farming has immense potential to become one of the most dynamic, modern, and sustainable systems in the world, and many businesses are already making key changes to their farming systems in order to improve biodiversity and reduce carbon emissions.
At QMS, and with the insights from our board and from the Scottish Red Meat Resilience Group with whom we work closely, we are fortunate to be able to look both ways up and down the supply chain and anticipate the best ways to support the work on the ground and in red meat businesses.
Recently, QMS published the Red Meat Industry Profile, a comprehensive analysis of the current state of the industry in Scotland, uncovering the Scottish livestock sector’s important contribution to the national economy and the UK’s overall levels of self-sufficiency in red meat, amidst concerns around food security.
The Beef Sector Strategy Steering group, chaired by QMS, launched its sector strategy for 2030 at the return of The Royal Highland Show. This crucial document sets out key objectives for the Scottish beef sector to achieve by 2030, building on current strengths, addressing key weaknesses and threats, and identifying innovative opportunities that can be implemented across the supply chain to safeguard a strong future for the
industry that is responsible on economic, environmental and social fronts. Executive Director of the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IAAS), Neil Wilson, will chair the Leadership Group that will work to implement the strategy, with additional members being appointed in the coming weeks to drive the initiative forward.
We are also thrilled to be in the final stages of searching for the next group of Monitor Farmers to be involved in the highly successful initiative. The new programme will be guided by the farming community and will be aimed at getting ‘under the bonnet’ of farming businesses, analysing and benchmarking business performance, as well as providing innovative research and development. We are also working with AHDB and HCC on a COP27 toolkit to support the industry to manage positive conversations around red meat for the conference and beyond.
A priority for QMS during this turbulent period has been engaging with MSPs, MP’s and Ministers across the country to highlight the challenges that the
Scottish red meat supply chain is facing, emphasising the support the sector needs to continue contributing to the national economy. The importance of red meat from a nutritional and public health perspective is also being highlighted, alongside the environmental credentials livestock are delivering against the Scottish climate change Act . The series of meetings will culminate in a parliamentary reception in January, sponsored by Elena Whitham MSP.
There is no doubt that the sector is confronted with unprecedented obstacles and uncertainty, but at a time when national food security cannot be overlooked, Scotland’s world-renowned red meat brands have the potential to be part of the solution.
With our extensive grassland and natural rainfall, we as a country can produce high quality, high welfare red meat in a way that sustains the landscapes, industry and rural communities while meeting the demands of the modern consumer who seeks strong sustainability credentials when they make purchasing choices.
Through collaboration with key industry players, listening to our levy payers and continued efforts to both support them and the end consumer, Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork will remain a staple of Scotland for many years to come.