September 18, 2013

 

 

By 2025, Scotland's dairy industry may be able to boost output by 50% to 1.6 billion litres a year.

 

Nineteen key recommendations for sustainable economic growth in the dairy sector were outlined by the Scottish Dairy Review "Ambition 2025", carried out by Scotland Food and Drink chief executive James Withers on behalf of the Scottish government.

 

Similar to the Irish government's Food Harvest 2020 report launched in July 2010, which outlined plans to grow Irish food exports by 42% by 2017, the Scottish Dairy Review calls for a 50% boost in dairy output through a collaborative approach throughout the supply chain.

 

Among the recommendations are plans to target key priority export markets; the development of an independent Scottish Dairy Bureau to provide information, advice and training; formalising the structure of dairy producer groups and work to emphasise the health benefits of drinking milk.

 

A Scottish Dairy Growth Board will also be formed to oversee the development of "Ambition 2025", with an "experienced business leader" at the helm.

 

Withers believe that by 2025 there will be a transformed industry in this country, one which can significantly grow its output - by up to 50% - as a direct result of creating new added-value markets. Import substitution is an important priority, but the real game-changer will be the development of new export markets, he added.

 

Scotland's dairy sector had a massive role to play in meeting the country's target of reaching a £16.5 billion (US$26.3 billion) turnover in the food and drink industry by 2017, including £7 billion (US$11 billion) from exports, added Withers.

 

Scots farm minister Richard Lochhead said that government, dairy farmers and the processing sector needed to collaborate and have a joint vision for the future.

 

National Farmers Union (NFU) Scotland welcomed the report and called for immediate creation of the Scottish Dairy Growth Board, to drive forward a "unified Scottish dairy sector".

 

Dairy UK director general Jim Begg welcomed the review and said the Scottish dairy sector needed to be ambitious to deliver fully on its potential.