Farm Visits To Shine Spotlight On Scotland’s Sustainable Food Production

NFU Scotland, Quality Meat Scotland and SAC Consulting to run fact finding farm visits this Autumn in run up to COP26

NFU Scotland, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and SAC Consulting have joined together to host fact finding farm visits for an invited audience of local MSPs, MPs and Councillors. These visits aim to highlight the importance of sustainable food production for the country, and the benefits of agriculture to the Scottish economy.

The farm visits will run weekly from Friday 10 September in the run up to COP26, the global climate change summit being hosted in Glasgow between the 1-12 November 2021, and will have particular emphasis on the environmental innovation taking place on farm.

The events are going to be held in parliamentary regions across Scotland: Central, South of Scotland, Highlands and Islands, North East, West of Scotland, Lothian, and Mid Scotland and Fife. Attendees will get the chance to meet local farmers and see first-hand what action they are taking to help to tackle climate change in the area. Examples of environmental investment and innovation will be demonstrated during each visit, and visitors will have the chance to hear how, as a sector, agriculture will help the country achieve net zero.

The visits are seeking to demonstrate specific elements of production that deliver positive action for the climate and biodiversity that Scottish farmers are taking.

Beatrice Morrice, NFU Scotland’s Political Affairs Manager, said: “These fact-finding visits will demonstrate how farmers across Scotland are helping to tackle climate change.

“Our members are using and producing renewable energy, investing in low carbon technology, delivering effective carbon capture and investing in biodiversity and wildlife enhancement to help the country reach net zero. NFU Scotland is delighted to be working jointly with QMS and SAC Consulting on this initiative to showcase this work.”

Sarah Millar, Director of Market Intelligence and External Affairs at QMS, added: “QMS are delighted to be working in partnership with NFUS and SAC Consulting on this project, ensuring that our elected decision makers are equipped with the facts around red meat production ahead of COP26 taking place in Glasgow. The Scottish Red Meat Industry is a priority sector that supports over 50,000 jobs throughout Scotland, and we look forward to showcasing some of the exciting work our farmers and producers have been doing to put them on a path to meeting the Scottish Governments Climate Change Act.”

Andrew Bauer, Head of Food & Footprint at SAC Consulting (part of Scotland’s Rural College), concluded that: “Climate change means concerted action must be taken by Scottish agriculture, but it’s easy to lose sight of the fact we are usually talking about small businesses juggling a huge range of obligations. These events provide parliamentarians with a great opportunity to hear from those doing the juggling, helping promote informed discussion about what needs to be done.”