The crimson meat chain sustains over 39,000 jobs
17 October 2023
3 minute learn
High quality Meat Scotland (QMS) launched an evaluation of the necessary financial contribution of Scotland’s crimson meat provide chain to the Scottish economic system, consistent with a press unencumber from the organisation.
The final time a equivalent evaluation used to be undertaken used to be in 2016. Pink meat manufacturing contributed between 36% and 38% of Scottish agricultural output in the most recent 5 years for which figures are to be had, with nearly 1 / 4 of output coming from the long-lasting pork sector.
“This document is necessary to figuring out the crimson meat provide chain in Scotland’s general – in addition to its rural economic system,” mentioned Sarah Millar, QMS’s leader govt. “Pink meat is key to Scotland’s agri-food sector, with an annual financial output of an estimated £2.8 billion, up over 16% from £2.4 billion in 2016.”
The crimson meat provide chain is de facto elementary to wider Scottish agriculture. It comprises on-farm manufacturing, farming inputs and processing. While various locally, crimson meat output accounts for 36% of nationwide farming output, with on-farm output now up by means of greater than £100m, from £1.16 billion in 2016, to £1.27 billion now.
The broader provide chain additionally generates vital revenues with £885m from meat processing, £361 million from core provide buying and selling (veterinary, equipment, fertiliser, feed and upkeep/structures) and an additional £225 million in output from different farm provides.
“There may be alternative to retain extra worth from the crimson meat chain if extra Scottish farm animals have been processed in Scotland, however this calls for the entire chain to paintings in combination to construct the alternatives in plenty of techniques – as we defined in QMS’s five-year technique at this yr’s Royal Highland Display,” the document mentioned. “It’s necessary that all of us shout loud and proud about our meat’s provenance, high quality, and the heritage of our Scotch crimson meat to increase an build up in home provide contracts in addition to export alternatives, hand in hand with making sure that there’s enough abattoir capability to procedure the greater throughput.”
The document additionally provides a complete replace at the employment throughout the crimson meat chain, which these days sustains over 39,000 jobs, 80% of which – 31,200 other folks – are on farm, 3,880 in meat processing, 2,000 within the core provides business – similar to feed and veterinary products and services – and a couple of,200 hired in different provides to the sphere.
“Farm animals farming is so vital to the material of our rural economies, supporting each employed and circle of relatives labour, in full-time and in part-time roles, and in-turn different native companies in rural and faraway puts,” Millar mentioned.
“What’s additionally vital to notice is that, while you upload within the additional processing of crimson meat into cooked meals and meals carrier, for instance, the overall employment contribution of the crimson meat sector is even larger.”
In the end, the document highlights the significance of crimson meat-based agriculture to faraway rural spaces.
“The farms and crofts that produce retailer lambs and livestock underpin financial task in a lot of Scotland, and importantly, the hills and islands of the north and west,” Millar mentioned. “With out crofting and hill farms, there could be greater depopulation and the hollowing out of faraway communities.”
“This document highlights the continuing significance of the crimson meat provide chain each to Scotland’s economic system in addition to our rural communities,” mentioned Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon.
“Enhancements in on-farm potency in addition to paintings to additional construct the logo and recognition of our country’s iconic meats have ended in a marked build up in worth of the sphere,” she added.
“That is right down to the diligence and difficult paintings of farmers, crofters and all those that paintings within the wider provide chain.”
The overall document can also be accessed throughout the QMS web page right here.
(1 GBP = USD $1.22)