Scotland Aim for £30billion Growth in Food & Drink Industry with ‘Ambition 2030’

‘Ambition 2030’ is a new strategy which aims to grow Scotland’s food and drink industry up to a £30 billion sector. Currently the sector is worth around £14.4 billion per year, and this bold move aims to double this by accelerating growth ‘delivered by industry ambition and investment, collaboration, political will, streamlined and effective support and the skills of the workforce’ – as Ambition 2030 reads.

The strategy was launched in Glasgow yesterday, March 23rd 2017, by Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, and the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership – which consists of the government alongside about 20 food & drink organisations, including Dairy UK, the Scotch Whisky Association, the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) and National Farmers Union Scotland.

The BBC reports that seafood and whisky exports from Scotland saw a significant rise last year, and over the next 13 years there are plans to boost these further as part of the strategy.

As well as boosting the numbers and targeting export markets, the strategy aims to boost the attractiveness of the industry in terms of jobs and careers by investing in the existing workforce of farmers, fishers, manufacturers and buyers to ensure they receive communication, partnership and profitability. The aim is to overall, make the farming, fishing, and food and drink industry the biggest and most valuable in Scotland.

Scotland Food & Drink Chief Executive, James Withers said:

“Ten years ago, when the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership was formed, our sector was relatively static. It is now one of the country’s best performing industries and it’s our fastest growing export sector. However, today sets out a new vision to build further on that.

“As an industry, we have identified an opportunity to more than double the size of our sector to £30 billion by 2030, making it Scotland’s most valuable industry.

“Food and drink is now a national success story for Scotland, yet there are areas requiring more work. Too few view our industry as a top career choice, many farmers feel detached from the success story and we can do more to support improvements in Scotland’s health.

“The focus we now place on all of that means we approach the coming years with real optimism. It will take a huge amount of dedication from industry, government and its agencies, but working collaboratively, there is every reason we can make Scotland the best place in the world to run a food and drink business.

“We’ll roll up our sleeves and work collaboratively as partners across industry and the public sector. We’ll define the actions that will make a difference and the resources required to make that will make a difference and the resources required to make it happen. And we’ll need the support of all those who work in – and with – our sector.”

Laura Sewell

An aspiring journalist, Laura is our content writer intern.  Pop-punk gig-goer and drag queen enthusiast, Laura is working her way into the industry with an English A -Level and love of writing about anything and everything in tow.

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