This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Minister addresses farmers' union
23/02/2007
A new food and drink body must help Scottish farming focus on the requirements of consumers, Rural Development Minister Ross Finnie said today.
The Minister said that the industry-led body Scotland Food & Drink would help bring farming closer to the demands of the market.
Addressing the annual NFU Scotland conference, Mr Finnie said:
"Agriculture must be able to work more closely with food and drink industries to develop markets and educate consumers about food choices. All parts of the industry - producers, processors, the food service sector and retailers - have to work together, communicating with consumers, responding to shifts in consumer demand and making better use of marketing and branding.
"The vehicle to help us meet that objective is Scotland Food & Drink, the new organisation led by industry and supported by the public sector and others.
"Scotland Food & Drink will provide leadership, set priorities, anticipate trends, co-ordinate delivery, and utilising Scotland's excellent research, will provide a strong and consistent industry voice on key issues.
"The new body will work across the whole supply chain to deliver what the market wants. For many years we have faced fierce competition from Ireland, with its very effective promotional body Bord Bia. If we are to compete successfully, we must do better than the competition, promoting seafood as well as agricultural produce.
"Food and drink retailing in the UK alone is worth £120 billion per year. Tesco have recently spoken of the need to make sustainability a significant driver of consumption. Marks & Spencer want UK, regional and local food sourcing to be a priority, and have already committed to doubling regional food sourcing within 12 months. The future for Scottish farming must lie in capitalising on Scotland's excellent reputation for quality produce with a distinct identity."