Acknowledgements
From the outset, the intention has been not to publish a strategy for the Scottish beef sector but to publish a strategy developed in consultation with the Scottish beef sector. To this end, a steering group was appointed, chaired by QMS chair Kate Rowell and comprising:
“We are supported by a wide array of passionate and skilled industry personnel, from our farmers, hauliers, feed merchants and auctioneers to our manufacturing workers, vets and butchers. Every single person working in our Scottish beef industry is a vital cog in a machine that does not stop, operating seven days a week, 52 weeks a year”
Stuart Ashworth
Quality Meat Scotland
Alistair Brunton
Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs
John Davidson
Scotland Food and Drink
Gavin Hill
SAC Consulting
Scott Jarron
Scottish Craft Butchers
Martin Kennedy
National Farmers Union Scotland
Sarah Millar
Quality Meat Scotland
Martin Morgan
Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers
Andy Nye
Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers
Paul Ross
Scottish Beef Association
Duncan Sinclair
MSD Animal Health
Yvonne White
Scottish Crofting Federation
Neil Wilson
Institute of Appraisers and Auctioneers Scotland
While a steering group was appointed to lead the project, a wide range of views, expertise, knowledge and experience was also sought from throughout the supply chain.
An initial round of stakeholder engagement took place in the spring of 2021, seeking views from across the industry on perceived strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to different areas of the supply chain. From this, more than 1,300 comments, submissions and elements of feedback were received, covering every element of the Scottish beef supply chain.
Following this initial feedback, four key pillars were formed and these are the basis for the key pillars of this strategy – Environmental Sustainability, Profitability Within the Supply Chain, People and Skills, and Animal Health and Welfare. Within each strategic pillar, focus areas were then identified, and recommendations then evolved to tackle the issues within the focus areas.
In the autumn of 2021, a second round of targeted stakeholder engagement took place, focusing on stress-testing each of the focus areas and recommendations, with key organisations and individuals within the Scottish beef supply chain. Feedback was collated, and the steering group used this to sign off the final recommendations within this report.
The steering group would like to extend its sincere thanks to all of those who shared their thoughts regarding the challenges facing the industry. In providing their unique insights into overcoming these challenges, we hope to build a stronger, progressive and more viable Scottish beef sector through to 2030.