The Scottish brand is a real mark of quality when it comes to food and drink.
The industry is going from strength to strength, with more local produce being stocked in supermarkets, corner shops and our growing number of farm shops.
Looking overseas we see similar success – exports to many countries are on the up, Scottish produce is in demand and we have more products than ever before with protected EU status.
The success of our food and drink industry starts on our farms – where the raw ingredients are grown.
Whether it’s dairy farmers, pig farmers, beef farmers or arable farmers, they are the foundation of the industry.
Quite simply we could not have the wide abundance of delicious food and drink that we enjoy without our farmers.
But while the food and drink industry is booming, farmers are struggling.
Low farm gate prices mean times are tough.
In our dairy industry for example, the price of milk continues to fall and difficult weather and trading conditions mean other sectors are suffering from lower prices too.
That’s not right. Farmers should be getting a good price that reflects the quality of their produce. The supply chain isn’t working the way it should.
This Government has put a lot of effort, support and money into our agriculture industry but it’s clear that, collectively, we need to do more.
I want to see a major change in the way farmers and the food and drink industry work together.
We need creativity, we need innovation, we need fresh ideas and new solutions – we need to work together to deliver a better approach.
By getting the whole supply chain – from farmers and producers to caterers and supermarkets – to work together we can look at what farmers produce and how they interact with the other people involved in taking food from field to plate.
We are also stepping up the engagement with all those involved in the supply chain to increase understanding and spark the kind of innovation that can be a real game changer for our industry.
These steps will help maximise the price farmers can achieve for their produce and help our food and drink sector continue to flourish.
I will look at what more we can do to support the dairy industry, who are some of the worst affected by falling prices, and build on what’s already been done under the dairy action plan and the new Scottish dairy brand - which has already attracted interest in our produce from a number of countries.
I want to see progress to improve the supply chain and ensure farmers get a fairer price for their produce and recognition of their starring role in our food and drink success story.
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