update
News from, and for, Scotland’s farmer co-ops - Autumn 2021
Co-ops Showcase Collaboration Benefits for Cabinet Secretary Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, Mairi Gougeon, spent a day finding out more about agri co-operation and six of our members in early August. Each co-op highlighted opportunities that can be realised and challenges overcome by greater co-operation, such as improving productivity, tackling climate change, building strength in supply chains, creating more resilience and strengthening the position of individual farmers. As well as agriculture and food and drink, Ms Gougeon’s remit covers fisheries and aquaculture, as well as co-ordination of policies for island communities. As SAOS’s work supports all of these, the day provided an ideal opportunity to talk about many issues affecting rural Scotland. At East of Scotland Farmers in Coupar Angus, Tim Bailey, SAOS’s Chief Executive, opened the discussion by giving Ms Gougeon an overview of the impressive strength and breadth of farm and rural co-operation in Scotland. Robin Barron, General Manager of EoSF, went on to highlight the power of their membership in raising capital to fund recent improvements to their site which Ms Gougeon was shown, and also how the co-op helps manage risk for members in a very volatile market. Andrew Faichney, MD of East of Scotland Growers, talked about his fruit and vegetable growers’ co-op which is also a ‘Producer Organisation’. With a strong focus on innovation and a self-help attitude, his members have invested in research and development to produce the best products for their markets and to minimise waste, diversifying into broccoli crisp production and driving major productivity gains. Having moved on to ANM in Thainstone, one of Scotland oldest and largest co-ops, their CEO Grant Rogerson explained the Group’s Pictured at EoSF, right to left: Robin Barron, Mairi Gougeon, business and how forward thinking and focus on innovation and diversification has helped it become a hub for farming in the north- John Hutcheson, Andrew Faichney, Jim Booth and Tim Bailey east, with seven different business divisions and a wide range of member benefits and advantages. Andy McGowan, MD of Scottish Pig Producers, talked through some of the innovation projects being undertaken to improve the health and competitiveness of the herd and the collaboration in processing, aiming not just to secure a future outlet, but to add value in Scotland to realise the market potential for Specially Selected Scottish pork. First Milk was represented by Mark Brooking their Sustainability Director, who discussed their leadership role in helping to tackle the climate challenge. Their First4Milk sustainability programme has seen them set a series of bold targets and commit to achieving net zero by 2040 at the latest. (Read more on this inside.) Tim Bailey then explained how SmartRural is delivering Rural Digital Connectivity to allow technology to deliver benefits for rural communities. Mutual ownership would provide a cost-effective strategy to push connectivity out nationally. Smart farming and the use of digital technology promises to equip farmers with the data and insights required to tackle the key challenges the industry faces. Closing the session, SAOS’s Jim Booth talked about the importance of co-ops in our farming and rural sector and the need for a sympathetic agricultural policy to grow this further. He spoke about Australia’s ‘Farming Together’ co-operation and collaboration pilot programme, an inspiring example of what can be done to drive positive change in farming with government support. The Cabinet Secretary said: “I want to thank everyone involved for taking time out of their day to share some of the amazing and innovative work occurring across some of Scotland’s co-ops. In order to make meaningful change, we need to work together and learn from each other so it’s great to hear how this cross-sector work comes together for the benefit of rural Scotland.” Tim added: ”We were delighted to highlight to the Cabinet Secretary the importance of co-ops to rural Scotland, from the Northern Isles to the far South West, and had no problem filling the day with varied examples of forward thinking, and innovative problem solving by co-ops to help strengthen their members’ position and safeguard family farms. We believe that working together makes sense in every way, particularly with COP26 coming up and the fight against climate change at the forefront of everyone’s mind. No-one can make a difference individually, but together we really can.”
A Warm Welcome to our New Recruit(s)
saos news and views
We are delighted to introduce you to Patricia Rojas Bonzi, who joined SAOS at the beginning of July as our new Supply Chain Development Executive. Paty, who is from Paraguay, qualified as a vet there before taking up an opportunity for a double Masters programme at Aarhus University in Denmark, studying for her MSc in sustainable animal nutrition and feeding. Her past experience includes working on behalf of technical and government bodies to ensure production practices followed farm assurance schemes, and a programme that achieved the export of poultry meat to international markets for the first time. She has also helped set up systems for her extended family’s beef units in Argentina. Most recently, Paty was working at Quality Pork Processors in Brechin for Pilgrims UK where she was responsible for delivering a key project to improve quality and tenderness of product from farm to fork, which involved data gathering, supply chain insight, analysis and project management. So she brings tremendous breadth of knowledge and experience to the team. Paty has really hit the ground running, already getting involved in several different projects and workstreams. We asked her how she was finding things so far. “My first weeks in SAOS have been great, I really enjoyed getting to know everyone and the projects they are involved in. Everyone has been very open and welcoming and made sure I was settling well. “I’ve found the range of sectors SAOS works with pretty exciting, and I have been involved in projects in a variety of areas, which makes every day’s work different. “Starting a new role with the pandemic scenario has been quite challenging, but lucky enough with some of the restrictions being lifted more face to face meetings will be possible, with precautions taken. I am really looking forward to helping develop projects and some initiatives further, and also to start seeing connections between the different topics and how to develop collaborations between sectors.” We are delighted to have you onboard Paty! And we have another new recruit! He’s really ‘just in the door’ as we go to press but Paul Crooks joined SAOS as Principal Data Engineer at the beginning of September. Paul has been working with us for some time on SmartRural, and more recently with an increasing range of data-related projects beyond that, so it’s great news that he has formally joined us as one of the team. We look forward to benefiting further from his particular skills and experience across a wide range of projects. (We’ll catch up with Paul in a future issue.)
New Collaboration Network From SAOS to Help Drive Change Over the last year, SAOS has been engaging extensively with our co-op members and wider stakeholders to look at how we can create new collaborative partnerships that will stimulate new thinking to address common challenges. From these discussions, it’s clear that ‘collective new thinking’ would better evolve and develop when rural businesses and organisations can come together through a formal and facilitated network. With this as our focus, we’re excited to announce that we’ll soon be launching our branded Cultivating Collaboration Network (C2Network). The vision for the C2Network is to bring together a range of strategic partners to co-develop approaches that will contribute to the continued development and sustainability of Scotland’s primary agriculture and supply chain sector. Our co-ops will be at the centre of C2Network activities and the platform is structured so that both they and our affiliate members can come together to leverage additional mutual benefits through more formal co-innovation working. By sharing our thinking, we are confident that the drive towards change and innovation will be more efficient and effective than any one organisation or individual can achieve on its/their own. In the first year, it is intended that the C2Network will deliver a range of activities across three themes. The themes of these workshops will be driven by areas of common interest from our co-op members, and participation in these workshops will be open to our affiliate members. These will inform and challenge conventional thinking and approaches, whilst stimulating dialogue with innovative enterprises and potentially building new partnerships. With SAOS’s proven track record in business support and facilitation, we will look to build trusted partnerships who can then develop proposals to take forward. Creating new ways of working together with our diverse range of existing and new partners has always been a key strategic priority for SAOS, and we will have lots to share with you over the coming months. To be kept up to date with developments or for additional information on the network, or if you’re interested in finding out how your organisation can become an SAOS Affiliate member, please get in touch with us through: helen.glass@saos.coop
In Conversation - with SAOS Chairman John Hutcheson
saos news and views
Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into co-operation. I am an arable farmer at Leckerstone, near Dunfermline. It’s a family business that has grown quite considerably over the last 30 years through contract farming and land acquisition but it’s still very much an arable-only unit. About twenty years ago we got involved with collaborative marketing through a group called Tayforth Marketing - it was simply a group of farmers who got together to sell wheat through a company in Dundee to United Distillers. It was quite a small group - I think only about five of us - but for me, it showed the power of collaboration and all the benefits that accrued. There was no constitution, no formal co-op formed, just an informal bunch of farmers working together. It did evolve from there into a more formal organisation, United Cereals of Scotland, and then became part of GrainCo. But way back then, I could see that, just by pulling tonnages together, we could provide a customer with a degree of certainty of volume, while also opening up a bit of forward trading opportunities which was carried out by Ed Rust, who’s still with GrainCo. He was also fairly important in setting the whole thing up. Then I got involved in Tayforth Machinery Ring. I joined the board and then I chaired that for about nine years. My father was actually one of the founding directors of Tayforth. It was at a time in the 80s when all these machinery rings were starting up. SAOS was pivotal in getting that done. So my father was a Tayforth director and I took over.
So co-operation is definitely in the blood?
Going way back! My mother has these wonderful family records of my grandfather - and great-grandfather actually, so I suppose I’m fourth generation - he was one of the founders of a co-op called Central Farmers way back in the early nineteen-hundreds so there’s a bit of history. I chaired Tayforth and during that time I also became a director of GrainCo, so that continues the cereal marketing theme, and then I joined the council and then the board of SAOS. So that’s really gone in parallel with the business expanding and doing more collaborative marketing. I think, for me, what really opened my eyes was working with our Oat Group (a group of oat growers within GrainCo, growing for, and working with, Quaker PepsiCo). In getting close to the customer and shortening that supply chain, which for a commodity that we’re producing is just so difficult, but it showed me how it can be done and how working together as a group has so many benefits. The pivotal point for me was getting the Oat Group up to a size and scale that it started to have importance and really started to matter. My philosophy is that the only way we as farmers can counter market forces is by working together. If we let the free market run mad, we’d have large corporate farming. The family farm would disappear and we’d have more industrialisation of farming, which would probably be quite efficient and cheap, but it would completely dismantle the fabric of rural society that we have today. I think the only way we can counter that is through collaboration and cooperation. That’s what drives me. To help keep the unique farming systems that we have in place. We’ll hear more from John in the next issue on Climate Change, the Next Generation and his ambitions for SAOS during his time as Chairman.
SAOS Training Update Plans are well underway for a new training programme focused on industry skills development, and we look forward to sharing details very soon on our website at: www.saos.coop/events-and-training In the meantime, we have the following coming up: Co-op Management in Practice- 24 and 25th November 2021 - two-day, residential course. Our residential CMiP course, now in its sixth year, is aimed at potential future co-op managers or department heads. The workshop builds understanding of the distinctive nature of successful co-op businesses, the issues and challenges, and will provide a forum for participants to share ideas and experiences from a range of co-ops. A key element is the contribution of two guest speakers, a co-op manager and a co-op chair, who will share their own experiences. This workshop works best in a face to face setting. There's just no alternative to sitting down with colleagues and
sharing real life experiences, formally in workshop time, but also informally over a meal. At this stage, we're asking you to get in touch to note your interest and save the date. We'll confirm at the end of September/early October if we are able to go ahead. Save the Date - Back to Basics Governance Workshop 12th January 2022 The key to success for every co-operative business is governance. Governance concerns the way co-op businesses are directed and controlled - central to the work of the board. Understanding the rules, processes, and procedures ensures that boards are discharging their responsibilities effectively. This workshop is designed as a basic introduction to the key information and guidance for anyone considering or who is new to a director position. The learning will help to ensure they can be an active player in the governance of their co-op. To register your interest please contact: allison.watson@saos.coop
co-ops news
Record Crop of Pre-Apprentices The latest Land-based Pre-Apprenticeship Programme got underway in June, with no fewer than 29 young trainees undertaking a 4-day block induction at the Scottish Rural College (SRUC) in Aberdeen, before moving on to their six months’ employment with rural businesses from July. Following support from Scottish Government and Skills Development Scotland in 2019 to roll out the programme on a national pilot basis, the programme has continued to go from strength to strength. The machinery ring employers: Ringlink Scotland, Borders Machinery Ring and Tarff Services are proud to have proven that the pre-apprenticeship programme could be delivered during a pandemic, and over two years, the pilot has recruited 80 young pre-apprentices with a further 60 participants planned for 2021. Gail Robertson, Ringlink’s Group Operations Manager, told us: “It was a pleasure finally to meet and welcome
our largest ever cohort of youngsters (pictured below), since this year’s recruitment and selection process was carried out entirely online. The recruits come from Fife, Perthshire, Mearns and Angus, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Inverness and the Highlands. More than half are from non-agricultural backgrounds, and all are eager to start working.” “The agricultural sector never stopped operating throughout the pandemic, and with an increasing demand for workers, new entrants and skills within the sector, it is vitally important that sufficient mentor businesses are secured on an annual basis, to offer opportunities and allow the trainees to progress their land-based careers.” Mentor businesses are always in demand, if you are interested in offering a placement, please contact: gail@ringlinkscotland.co.uk
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Ringlink Services Invests in new Training Facility For over twenty-five years Ringlink Services has been delivering training to help maintain not only the health and safety and welfare of the workforce, but also to encourage and promote the new skills required to support industry and growth within the economy. Given the current economic position, the requirement to train and develop the workforce has seldom been as important. Ringlink Services is therefore delighted to announce the purchase of a new site in Laurencekirk which will operate in tandem with the existing facility. The new site provides greater capacity and diversity of training to meet the increasing demand. Peter Wood, Training Manager, says: “Our training portfolio already exceeds 100 certified courses such as Health and Safety, First-aid, Forklift Operation, Pesticides, Chainsaw Operation, ATV’s and a selection of online training events, we also have a strong network of trainers and assessors.” “The new facility will host a wider range of courses; as well as all the agriculture-related training, we’ll also offer construction-based training which will include: New Roads and Streetworks, Crane Operation, Excavation and Dumpers.” Ringlink currently deliver a significant amount of Chainsaw and Utility arboriculture training and this will be accommodated in a purpose-built workshop. Additionally, and to encourage the next generation, Ringlink will be investing in a simulator which will be designed for both agricultural and construction training. The facility will also be accessible for schools and colleges to give students the opportunity to get a ‘taster’ of the various industry sectors and learn about the wide range of career opportunities available. Peter adds: “As the agricultural sector looks to the future, there must be a greater focus on continuous learning so that businesses not only survive, but thrive.” “Given the location of the new centre, just off the A90 between Dundee and Aberdeen, and with a mainline train station, the new facility is well located to attract businesses and trainees from the entire North East of Scotland and beyond. This is without doubt an exciting time for Ringlink training in Scotland.”
Sustainable and Stunning - new Offices for Grampian Growers
co-ops news
Grampian Growers’ offices have undergone a striking transformation with a sustainable building fit for the future. The office, which was designed by Ben and Rosemary Scrimgeour of The Building Worksop and constructed by Algo, was completed internally at the end of June and externally at the end of July. Rosemary Scrimgeour said: “As an architecture practice, we believe that one of the most important elements in designing sustainable buildings is flexibility: if buildings can easily adapt to suit evolving business needs they will remain in use for a long time. Our design also focuses on the wellbeing of the buildings’ users with light, height, fresh air and space. The nature of Grampian Growers’ work requires a diverse and highly talented workforce and a cool building helps to attract the right people.” Ben Scrimgeour added: “The design for the new office is intrinsically sustainable and enables natural ventilation to avoid the cost and energy use of air conditioning. Windows on the walls and the roof open to allow cool air in at ground level and hot air out through the roof, whilst the roof windows flood the interior with natural daylight reducing the need for artificial lighting. The roof overhangs the glazed office windows to provide shading and decrease solar glare - like a baseball cap! In winter, the building is heated using an air source heat pump powered by an existing solar array and the ground floor slab acts as a big radiator for thermal mass.” It’s certainly a major step up from the original office, which was built in 1979. It’s great to see a building in keeping with Grampian Growers’ development and ambition.
Co-op Managers Impressed by Soft Fruit Innovation and Development At the beginning of September, Angus Growers organised for a group of co-op managers to visit James Porter, at East Scryne, Carnoustie. SAOS facilitates two ‘community of practice’ groups for co-op managers (one north and one south) who meet regularly to share experiences and learning by seeing new developments in business and management in practice. Like most of our meetings it’s been a long time since the managers got together (this visit involved managers from both groups) so it was a very welcome opportunity. Angus Soft Fruits is one of the fastest-growing food and drink companies in Scotland. Through their constant drive for innovation and investment in new technology, they have enabled the 22 member growers in Angus Growers to benefit from the revolution in soft fruit production and market growth opportunities. Members grow a variety of soft fruits, including strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and cherries, accounting for over 60% of Scottish soft fruit production. Their main customers are all the major supermarkets. To provide all year round supplies to UK consumers, they also have links and joint-ventures with growers in Spain, Morocco and Chile. SAOS’s Jim Booth commented: “The innovation we saw today, allied to the drive to improve supply chain efficiency and to delight customers is awe inspiring. It just reinforces the fact that we have some world class businesses in Scotland. A key message for me was the importance of leadership, and the benefits of growers co-operating and working together. The transformation and performance of the Scottish soft fruit sector over the last 20 years has been nothing short of a revolution. Part of that success is also down to government policy, and the EU ‘Fruit and Veg Aid Scheme’. Imagine if that scheme was extended to other sectors in agriculture, how it could be the catalyst to drive change and investment in our industry?” Michael Bayne, Manager at Borders Machinery Ring, added:”We were very privileged to see a first class professional soft fruit farm today. James (Porter) was so open and willing to share information, it was so refreshing. The investment in new technology, including poly tunnels, plant breeding, table-top production, controlled irrigation and crop nutrition, biological pest control, amongst others, was simply breathtaking. They are already working with a tech company testing robotic harvesters to help future proof growers.” Pictured, left to right, are Robert Logan, SAOS; Mark Clark, Grampian Growers; Andy McGowan, Scottish Pig Producers; Michael Bayne, Borders Machinery Ring; Rod Sanderson, Tarff Valley; Angela Porchez, Angus Growers; Dave Cuthbert, Angus Soft Fruits; and the day’s host, James Porter who is also Chairman of Ringlink Scotland.
First Milk Holds Strong and Invests in Carbon Measurement Partner
co-ops news
First Milk’s Annual Report and Accounts for the year ending 31 March, show that the co-op continues to deliver progress across the key financial areas, whilst also increasing capital investment and member returns. Key highlights include: • • • • • • •
Group turnover up 6% to £299.5m (2020: £282.8m) Operating profit up 8% to £8.1m (2020: £7.5m) Net profit up 24% to £5.6m (2020: £4.5m) Capital investment of £7.8m in the year (2020: £5.3m) Net bank borrowings stable at £33m (2020: £33.1m) Member Premium increased to 0.5ppl (2020: 0.25ppl) Announced commitment to Net Zero 2040 and launched a leading regenerative agriculture programme Chief Executive, Shelagh Hancock, said: “In what was an extraordinary year, we were able to adapt rapidly and respond positively to the challenges we faced and continued to make good progress throughout the year. “As a co-operative business, we are committed to working together to regenerate the earth every day, to enrich life and nourish future generations. We have seen 93% of our members voluntarily sign up to our First4Milk Pledge – a broader commitment to sustainable dairy including guaranteeing cows’ access to pasture and enhancing biodiversity.” As part of their First4Milk pledge, the co-op has joined with Nestlé and soil carbon measurement company, Agricarbon, on a pioneering soil carbon capture project – the first of its kind in the world.
Over the last few weeks, the project has seen a nationwide tour demonstrating #regenerativeagriculture. A high intensity, field-by-field soil carbon stock is being quantified across 40 farms, with the intention to extend this to 100 First Milk farms by the end of 2021. The project is being guided by Dr. Helaina Black, a leading soilecologist and Honorary Associate at the James Hutton Institute. Mark Brooking, Sustainability Director, said: “Having robust, scientifically-validated soil carbon data is absolutely critical to the successful delivery of our strategy.” First Milk has also invested in Agricarbon, acquiring a 5% stake in the business. The Dundee-based start-up founded by Scottish farming entrepreneur, Stewart Arbuckle; Annie Leeson, data services entrepreneur and decarbonisation expert; and Alan Strong, technology commercialisation expert. Agricarbon addresses the main barrier to evidencing and valuing soil carbon sequestration: the need to quantify soil carbon stock, at low cost, but with high integrity. It offers a unique soil carbon measurement service using proprietary technology to automate the most robust scientific methodologies for intensive, direct soil sample collection and analysis, at a fraction of the usual cost.
Local Food Wholesale Growth Programme Steps Into Gear
supply chains
The first phase of the ‘Delivering Growth Through Wholesale’ programme for local food and drink is set to roll. SAOS has a long and successful record in supporting local food and is working closely with the Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) and Scotland Food & Drink (SF&D) to help deliver the bespoke programme on behalf of the SF&D Partnership, supported by Scottish Government. The evidence is clear that consumer demand for both local and regional food and drink is the highest it’s ever been. Collaboration is key and the partners will deliver a specific suite of measures to enable wholesalers and producers to work together for mutual benefit. A dedicated programme of activities will run from September through to January next year and beyond, including a range of workshops, one to one support and mentoring, and featuring a regional showcase, Wholesale: Meet the Buyer event in January 2022. Fergus Younger of SAOS highlighted: “This comprehensive route to market development programme will focus on facilitating entry for producers to the wholesale opportunity. It will align the various producers to the most appropriate wholesaler profiles, and provide one to one support for businesses to self-audit and create an achievable action plan to gain a listing. Establishing and maintaining these relationships initially in the short, and ultimately over the longer term, will be key to the success of the growth in local sales through this channel.” Wholesalers in Scotland are increasingly committed to doing more to support local suppliers, with 55% of them actively focused on expanding their local food and drink offering, as they respond to consumer demand. Together, they provide a network of approximately 130 wholesale distribution depots across Scotland, with 90% of them Scottish-owned and family-run SMEs. Equally, food and drink SMEs can find it challenging to access the local markets due to logistics, resource implications and simply time to deliver products and find connections to new buyers in retail and foodservice outlets. Working together with wholesalers provides another option that can help overcome these issues, and provide direct access to buyers and new business opportunities.
Net Zero Action Plans for SAOS and RSABI
collaboration
Together, SAOS and RSABI have begun work with environmental consultants JRP solutions (find more about them at www.jrpsolutions.com) to come up with Net Zero Action Plans for both organisations. The work will involve identifying our current impact and then coming up with science-based targets and an implementation plan for a Net Zero Roadmap for each business. The process will increase our own understanding of the journey that so many business will need to go on and put us in a great position to support any of our co-op members keen to explore this opportunity. With COP26 on all of our horizons, now is the time to achieve a greater awareness of our impact and set out our ambition to demonstrate that we are an organisation seeking to play its part. It’s great to be taking this work forward in partnership with RSABI, just another example of how #workingtogether can help us all tackle challenges and make progress. Climate change can feel like a daunting challenge but there are so many opportunities for all of us working in food and farming in Scotland to set ourselves apart.
Flower Growers Gather For Open Day The Flowers Grown in Scotland collaborative group picked a grand day for their first open day at the end of August. They were rewarded with a superb turnout of 35 growers and industry reps, as well Cabinet Secretary, Mairi Gougeon. The day was hosted by N J McWilliam & Co and Blooming Bees on Wardmill Farm near Forfar. Rural Affairs Secretary, Mairi Gougeon, who is fully behind the movement for locally-grown produce, commented: “We can see the potential for the Scottish flower industry grow because it’s about provenance. In much the same way as we buy local with our meat, fruit or veg, we can do the same with our flowers,” she said. “I’m keen to see what we can do to help the sector grow because there are clearly diversification opportunities that can be developed.” Claire Dyce of Grampian Growers, said that while locally-produced cut flower sales had taken off in the last year, the sector faces logistical challenges such as ensuring enough volume to offer wholesalers continuity of supply. “Customers are starting to recognise that buying Scottish is good. Our flowers have great environmental credentials - there are no air miles, and our flowers last much better at home compared to flowers that have been flown in from Holland or Africa and kept refrigerated for weeks,” she said. “But there are challenges to overcome which is why we need to come together as a group, iron out issues, and ensure that we get the best price for our produce.” “The point of the group is to keep in contact and work together with industry leaders to better the sector and increase customer awareness of flowers grown practically on their doorstep. Discussions that took place on the day Pictured, left to right, are Fiona Ingils of PYRUS; Claire Dyce of included issues around logistics and deliveries, supply to Grampian Growers; Kelly Orr of Blooming Bees; Cabinet Secretary, wholesalers, and how best to get the message out to the Mairi Gougeon; and Valerie Orr of Blooming Bees. customer about provenance, extended vase life and the environmental benefit of buying locally-grown cut flowers.” Claire added: “SAOS has played a vital role in the group, from its beginnings as a RISS group, to where we are now, helping us form an association. Helen and Amada especially have guided us from the start and have been very supportive of the group. We look forward to more continued working with SAOS as Flowers Grown in Scotland evolves.” The group formed just 12 months ago, with founder members including Grampian Growers, Blooming Bees and the McWilliam family who have a pick-your-own flower field at Haughhead, Laurencekirk. Fiona Inglis , who has run Pyrus , a flower business in East Lothian, for ten years said the sector had grown from just six producers to 60 in a decade. “There is a lot of enthusiasm but there are pitfalls you have to be aware of,” she warned potential new growers. “I’d recommend investing in a good flower farming course, and being very clear in your plans about who you intend to sell to. The key thing to remember is that a flower farm shouldn’t have any flowers in it. They should all be at a wedding or in someone else’s house!”
collaboration
Knowledge is Power - how can The Knowledge Bank help you?
We hear from SAOS’s Amanda Brown, who is Project Director for The Knowledge Bank, a new service launched by the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership to identify and develop new market opportunities using research, insight, market data and knowledge, to deliver sustainable growth for the Scottish food and drink industry. “Focusing on today’s markets and tomorrow’s opportunities, The Knowledge Bank will work across the Scottish food and drink industry, from the farm to the fork, to stimulate thinking and encourage action. The Knowledge Bank is focusing its thinking and work around what’s happening in, and what the opportunities are, both within the UK marketplace and key international markets, interrogating some of the mega trends that are developing, looking into the future to identify emerging trends, along with how consumers are shopping and what customers are asking for, not only in the grocery sector but also foodservice. Supported by Scottish Government through the SF&D Partnership Food and Drink Recovery Plan, the insight that is being developed can be accessed by any business involved in the Scottish food and drink supply chain. Our depository of insight and intelligence can be found at: www.foodanddrink.scot/the-knowledge-bank/ Market insight isn’t just for big brands and big companies and those involved in large scale manufacturing, it’s for everyone involved in growing, producing and making food and drink. Data and insight are different things, one informs the other and insight is the result of applying human thought, reasoning, knowledge and experience to analysed data, to produce thinking that might then be able to stimulate change or identify an opportunity for new products, new sales or to grow existing ones. As well as using insight to help us understand what’s happening in the market, it also helps us observe how consumers are behaving, what makes shoppers tick and what the competition is up to. We can also use insight to understand the cost of ingredients, to determine demand and supply and to benchmark against competitors. There’s also the ability to use insight from trends to create ideas for new products including new species and variants – and it’s not just about products, it’s about packaging and sustainability and new channels to market such as e-commerce and selling directly to consumers. Importantly for the Scottish food and drink industry, The Knowledge Bank is helping to get hold of insight that is relevant for today’s markets and then disseminate this to help co-ops, businesses and supply chains in Scotland use this information in the heart of business strategy and planning. Over the coming months there are several webinars planned and we’ll share the details of these with you via SAOS communications. You might also want to sign up for the monthly newsletter where information about The Knowledge Bank’s work and events are publicised (sign up via the website). We’ll also be launching an ‘Insights to NPD’ project which you might be interested in taking part in, or coming along to sector-led events, investigating the opportunities around the development of health and wellness trends both in the UK and international markets, or hearing how the foodservice sector is recovering from Covid. There’s definitely something for everyone.” Find out more: www.foodanddrink.scot/the-knowledge-bank or get in touch: info@theknowledgebank.scot
technology
New Website for SmartRural
SmartRural is ramping up and rolling out and we’ll be reporting on several exciting developments very soon. SmartRural uses cutting edge technology with low power, costeffective sensors in an almost limitless variety of ways. These enable ‘smart farming’, allowing farmers to gather data to help make better informed decisions, which inturn can increase profitability, enhance safety, and protect the environment. If you are not familiar with how SmartRural works and the possibilities it brings for rural Scotland, check out the new website which will give you more information. Find out more, and why we’re so excited about it, at: www.smartrural.coop
Please save the date and join us for our Conference at Dunblane Hydro on 27th Jan 2022! Supply Chains
Working together to shape the future of farming and food.
If you have any suggestions for future SAOS Updates, or you no longer wish to receive it, please contact: jennifer.grant@saos.coop
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