- Ambitious ten-year collaborative strategy targets strong
growth against Brexit impacts
An industry-led strategy which aims for a 25% increase in
turnover for Scotland’s food and drink sector by 2028 has been
published.
Sustaining Scotland, Supplying the World: a strategy for
Scotland’s food and drink industry has been developed by the
Scotland Food & Drink Partnership, which brings government
and industry together to further the interests of the sector.
The strategy aims to support the sector to grow faster than
similarly sized competitors, such as Ireland and Norway. The
Scotland Food & Drink Partnership projects it could support a
25% increase in turnover for the sector by 2028 – from a
projected £16 billion to £20 billion.
Actions include restoring promotional activity to pre-pandemic
levels to reach new markets, and recruiting and retaining a
highly skilled workforce to adapt and tackle skills shortages in
the sector.
First Minister launched the strategy and
announced £5 million Scottish Government funding during the 2023
Royal Highland Show. Industry will contribute a further £1
million, bringing total funding for year one of the strategy to
£6 million.
The launch takes place seven years to the day since the UK voted
to leave the EU, which has caused significant setbacks for the
Scottish food and drink sector. Scottish Government analysis,
published today, indicates Brexit is the main cause of
difficulties in trading overseas for 44% of businesses in
Scotland, and responsible for a third of food price inflation,
currently at a 45-year high.
Previous figures from Scotland Food & Drink Partnership have
also shown that in January 2022 food manufacturing industries
faced a shortfall of at least 10,000 workers, with impacts
particularly notable on soft fruit, horticulture and seasonal
vegetable production, making attracting new talent to the sector
a priority for the strategy.
The First Minister said:
“Brexit has caused very significant problems for our farmers and
food and drink industry – for everyone from seafood suppliers to
seed potato produces.
“Despite this, the food and drink sector remains a Scottish
success story. As an employer – including in rural areas – and an
exporter, it is a major contributor to the Scottish Government’s
missions of opportunity, equality and community. We are
determined to work with the sector to help it succeed, and that’s
we’re supporting the food and drink strategy with £5 million this
year.
“Government and industry need to collaborate if we are going to
attract a skilled workforce, improve productivity, reduce our
carbon emissions and market ourselves globally – all of these
aims, and many others, require co-ordinated action.”
Chief Executive of Scotland Food and Drink Iain Baxter said:
“The new Scotland Food & Drink Partnership industry strategy
will lay the foundations for sustainable growth for one of our
country’s most important economic sectors. Sustaining
Scotland. Supplying the World is a collaborative
strategy that brings together businesses, leadership bodies and
government to chart a sustainable and profitable path for the
industry.
“Our food and drink sector is a major economic contributor, so
having a unifying strategy to drive forward a positive vision for
the industry is essential. We have the opportunity to cement
ourselves as a world leader in sustainability. That’s
sustainability in the widest possible sense – environmental
impacts, societal fairness, and economically sustainable.”
Background
Homepage |
Scotland Food and Drink
Sustaining Scotland, Supplying the World: Scotland’s Food and
Drink Strategy replaces Ambition 2030: Industry Strategy
for Growth | Scotland Food and Drink and the Food and Drink
recoveryplan.pdf
(foodanddrink.scot) which supported industry through the
COVID-19 pandemic.
The Scotland Food & Drink Partnership will publish a detailed
year-one delivery plan shortly, focusing on how businesses across
the sector can access and sell to new markets in Scotland and
across the world.
£5 million will be provided by Scottish Government in 2023-24 to
support year one of the strategy, with further funding to be
considered as part of future Scottish Budgets.
Scottish Government Brexit
Anniversary briefing highlights:
- food price inflation at a 45 year high with Brexit
responsible for an estimated one third of it
- damaged trade with 44% of businesses in Scotland naming
Brexit as the main cause of difficulties trading overseas
UK Government issues - Short
Life Food Security and Supply Taskforce: report - gov.scot
(www.gov.scot) highlighted the need for the UK Government to
address immigration rules in relation to particular key sector
labour and skills shortages. From a Scotland specific
perspective, Scotland Food & Drink reported, in January 2022,
that Scotland’s food manufacturing industries have a shortfall of
at least 10,000 workers.
