NFU Scotland Livestock committee tours Scotbeef Queenslie site

The importance of adding value to Scottish beef and lamb was the key message when NFU Scotland’s Livestock Committee visited the Scotbeef processing site in Queenslie, Glasgow yesterday (21 May).

The Livestock Committee got to see first-hand the innovative product development taking place at the site which produces added value beef and lamb products.

Along with the tour, the Livestock Committee were given an overview of the Scotbeef business, which has created over 900 jobs and supplies high-quality beef and lamb to the UK market.

Following the tour, the Livestock Committee held their formal meeting where they discussed Brexit, market prices and possible changes to the regulations around sheep and cattle traceability.

Speaking after the visit, Livestock Committee Chairman Jimmy Ireland, a beef and sheep farmer from Ayrshire said: “The red meat sector is worth an estimated £2 billion to the Scottish economy which is a fantastic platform on which to grow.

“Our visit to Scotbeef allowed us, as farmers, to directly see the efforts being made to add value to Scottish beef and lamb.

“With the Scotbeef business currently employing more than 900 people, it clearly demonstrated the economic value of businesses like Scotbeef to Scotland.  With the outcome of Brexit still hanging in the balance it’s vital that our political leaders ensure that companies like Scotbeef can continue to access high-quality labour in the future.

“Given the huge importance of the sector, Scottish livestock farmers and crofters must be able to continue to supply high quality beef and lamb to the UK and European markets in the future, without our high standards and justifiable reputation being undermined by lower quality imports from other parts of the world.

“Today’s visit was a valuable reminder on the importance of Scottish food production, both upstream and downstream, to the Scottish economy. The Livestock Committee was grateful to Scotbeef for hosting.”

Notes to editors

• Further details on Scotbeef, who hosted the visit from NFU Scotland’s Livestock Committee, can be found at: http://www.scotbeef.com/
• A photograph of Jimmy Ireland chairing the committee meeting at Scotbeef is available on request from media@nfus.org.uk