Hansard

I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests, as a small farmer.

Writing a speech on Scotland’s food and drink is no easy task, for Scotland creates a vast range of world-renowned food and drink—from the fresh catch of the day across our coastal regions to spirits, fruits and more. We have fruits from Angus Growers in Fife, Angus and Perthshire; cullen skink with fresh-caught fish from Shetland; the iconic Irn Bru from AG Barr in Glasgow; Bon Accord drinks, with their big natural flavours; and Aberdeen Angus steak, produced to the highest welfare standards on the rolling hills of Aberdeenshire. For vegetarians, Macsween of Edinburgh has a range of vegan and vegetarian options, which can perhaps be accompanied by chips from the Real Fresh Chip Co in Fife. We should be proud of Scotland’s leading role in potato production, with Scotland exporting more than 92,000 tonnes of high-health-status seed potatoes—and do not forget that East of Scotland Growers supply a wide range of quality vegetables.

Tourists and locals can delight in one of Harry Gow’s delicious cakes from the Highlands, ice cream from Arran Dairies, cheesecake from Aulds Delicious Desserts, cakes from Reids of Caithness, or Rowan Glen yoghurts. If that does not fill us up, perhaps we can all sit back and enjoy some of Angus Robertson’s cultural delights with a packet of Mackie’s crisps, a cheese board with Orkney cheddar and some smoked salmon from Stornoway Smokehouse, all washed down with a wee dram of Scotch whisky—but do not forget to add a drop of water, which is essential, according to Jack Gemmell at Chivas Brothers. I can create a stunning tour through Scotland’s iconic, fresh, high-quality food and drink sector, in which producers employ thousands of staff.

The sector contributes 14.6 per cent gross value added of total UK food and drink manufacturing, and 31.3 per cent of total UK food and drink exports. The Scotch whisky industry alone makes up £3 in every £100 of Scottish GVA, totalling 77 per cent of Scotland’s food and drink exports, which are worth £5.3 billion to the Scottish economy. It pains me to see that the industry was startled by the GI announcement down in England, which my colleagues will touch on later in the debate.

Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting Scotland’s Rural College’s new vertical farm, which explores new ways of supporting food production and security. In January, SRUC opened the £1.8 million facility, which is dedicated to teaching students about growing crops more quickly, and with higher nutritional value, while using less water. I am confident that the project will play its part in the future of food security in Scotland, and I wish SRUC well with it.

It is important to me that we start on positives because behind the businesses that I have mentioned are our constituents, our friends and perhaps our families, who, every day, play their roles in supporting Scotland’s food and drink economy. I am proud to talk about Scotland’s food and drink sector, but that does not take away the challenges that exist. I have already had companies contacting me about the UK Labour Government’s national insurance increases, which are causing real concern. On top of already increased costs, that was a bitter blow for many businesses, and it will cost jobs in the sector.

In January, the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers raised concerns about a potential shortage in our red meat supply due to a fall in the numbers of cattle. Scott Walker, the association’s chief executive, expressed serious concern, warning that that decline was

“likely to be felt on retail shelves”

in the future.

The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation has warned that the industry risks being “crushed” because of planned significant growth of floating offshore wind power in Scottish waters and the UK Government’s ambition to reset relationships with the EU. Fishermen tell me of their concerns over current arrangements for non-UK boats in our waters, which present dangers from overfishing and bad practice.

Infrastructure is required in many areas. In my own area, nearly 40 rural jobs will be lost when a rural food producer, New World Foods in Forres, closes on 30 April. The factory’s owner, Valeo Foods UK, cited a number of logistical challenges presented by the site’s location that have made it

“increasingly difficult to maintain cost efficiencies”.

I do not claim to know the full details, but what might a dualled A9 or A96 have done to keep those essential jobs in remote rural areas such as Forres? Transport, along with energy prices and labour, remain key issues for the industry, which the Scottish Government must address with clarity and vision.

The cabinet secretary’s motion calls for cross-party support. As regards talking up our food and drink sector, standing side by side to protect Scottish whisky, or shouting loudly about our products, I welcome such consensus. However, my job in Parliament includes pointing out where the Scottish National Party Government has made mistakes, when things are not right and when more needs to be done. For example, the decision not to pass on business rate relief support to the hospitality sector was a huge mistake. That lack of support has stifled growth and deferred investment. The deposit return scheme caused confusion and worry across the drinks sector and was ultimately paused for the long term, but not before costing the industry significant sums of money. The SNP’s failure to factor in costs and the implications of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020 was a real concern.

The Scottish Government has yet to produce a finalised good food nation plan, but, like many others, I eagerly anticipate its publication later this year. As Finlay Carson has just mentioned, last week, the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee heard from farmers and industry representatives that changes to agricultural policy are too slow and that key information is not getting to the ground. [Interruption.] The minister might look at me across the chamber, but that is true—it is what they said last week.

For me, there remains a lack of urgency over future agricultural support, with no clear accepted plan to restore livestock numbers and support food production, or to encourage new entrants and young farmers. The SNP’s delivery of cuts to college funding across Scotland is causing a recruitment crisis and a skills shortage. According to the Scottish Funding Council, 8,000 fewer college places have been made available in the past year. Delays to the dualling of the A9, little progress on roads such as the A83 Rest and Be Thankful, and never-ending issues with ferries are all causing significant challenges to food and drink businesses across rural Scotland and on our islands. If Scotland is to achieve its goal for farming, fishing and food and drink to be Scotland’s most valuable industries by 2030, recognised at home and abroad as a model of collaboration and a world leader in responsible, profitable growth, it will need far more and far clearer Government support.

I would never deny the challenges that have come from Brexit, Covid or conflict around the world, but I was interested to read in the Scottish Parliament information centre report, “Scotland’s exports—policy and statistics”, that, in aggregate, seafood exports have not declined markedly following the UK’s exit from the EU, but there has been a considerable switch in terms of the markets and the products being exported, including increases in exports to France, the Netherlands, Poland and Lithuania. That is welcome news. Markets change over time, and I am aware that some parts of the industry are progressing exciting opportunities in new markets around the world. Interestingly, the same report notes that beverage exports have also shown no sign of change since the UK has left the EU.

I will quickly mention gene editing. I worry that, too often, people see the word “gene” and immediately picture thousands of genetically engineered giant lettuces, or it conjures up images of crops taking over entire ecosystems. I accept that there are concerns over genetically modified organisms, but gene editing, in my understanding, is a very different thing. Using well-known methods to modify existing genetic material in a way that can yield more beneficial outcomes, this technology could help to tweak the performance of crops to help with disease resistance and drought tolerance or to produce higher yields.

The Scottish agricultural industry has called for the adoption of precision breeding technology and has highlighted the technology’s potential to strengthen food security and address climate change. Organisations such as the Agricultural Industries Confederation Scotland and NFU Scotland have urged the Scottish Government to align with recent precision breeding legislation that has already been enacted in England.

As with all new technologies, a careful, considered approach is always safest, but there is a difference between gene editing and genetic modification, and perhaps it is about time that the Scottish Government thought again about its use in Scotland. I hope that we all want to see a thriving and successful food industry.