At a meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland’s Rural Affairs and Food Secretary Richard Lochhead met representatives from across the whole food sector, and heard from them how important continued retailer support for the domestic supply chain will be at this uncertain time.
Today’s meeting followed a pelagic industry specific meeting held last week. Many of the actions agreed at that meeting including exploring new export market opportunities, investigating what UK instruments, such as export insurance, could be used to help Scottish businesses trade in other markets, investigating what EU instruments can be used to alleviate pressure on the supply chain and encouraging retailer and consumer demand for home produce across the UK will also be relevant for all the other sections of the food sector and we have agreed to work with them to explore those all avenues further.
Speaking after the meeting Mr Lochhead said: “It was clear at the meeting today that much work is still on-going to fully understand the impact displaced produce from across the EU will have on Scotland’s wider food sector.
“At this uncertain time it is important for the industry that they continue to be supported by the retailers and I will be writing to them to ask that they do all they can to support Scotland’s food producers as the knock-on effects of the Russian trade embargo become clear. With Scottish produce being in high demand I am sure there will be opportunities to find new customers and the Scottish Government will continue to work closely with producers to fully maximise consumer demand for our wide array of premium products.
“We will also pursue new emerging markets for products and seek the support of the UK Government and EU to explore all avenues to help and support that could be deployed, including export insurance and wider agriculture support.”
