Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers has this week met members of the Scottish fishing, farming and food and drink industries as part of a two-day visit to Moray and Aberdeenshire.
In her first visit to Scotland since becoming Environment Secretary, she began with a tour of Pitgaveny Farms – a mixed farm near Elgin – with representatives from the National Farmers Union Scotland. While there she underlined the importance of Scotland’s agriculture to the UK’s economy and the opportunities for the sector as we leave the EU.
The Environment Secretary then saw first-hand the importance of the Scotch Whisky industry on a visit to the Dalmunach Distillery in Carron, one of Scotland’s newest and most contemporary distilleries. With Scotch Whisky the UK’s biggest food and drink export, she reaffirmed the government’s commitment to helping UK food and drink businesses reach more global markets.
Finally, the Environment Secretary visited Peterhead – the UK’s largest port by landings – to see the town’s busy fish market in action. She joined a roundtable discussion with local processors, skippers and fishermen, who outlined their priorities for the coming months as the UK leaves the EU and becomes and independent coastal state.
Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers said: “With Scotch Whisky and Scottish smoked salmon renowned the world-over, it was brilliant to visit Scotland this week and see some of these iconic industries in action.
“Leaving the EU offers the greatest opportunity in a generation to reform the way our agriculture and fishing industries are run, and to champion our food and drink products on the global stage.
“We will ensure Brexit works for all four corners of the UK, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with businesses across these sectors as we grasp the new opportunities on offer.”
Pitgaveny Farms lie between Elgin and Lossiemouth. They farm a variety of crops and livestock including 120 hectares or organic crops and beef herd. The Environment Secretary’s visit follows the government’s recent announcement of a funding boost for Scottish farmers, recognising their previous concerns and creating a fairer funding formula under government’s funding commitment for this Parliament.
NFU Scotland used its first meeting with new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Theresa Villiers to highlight the unique profile of Scottish agriculture and press for certainty for the industry.
The meeting was hosted by Highland Regional Chair Martin Birse, farms manager for Pitgaveny Farms in Moray, where NFUS took the Secretary of State on a tour of the set-up. The Union used that as an opportunity to outline the critical importance of UK Government delivering a deal on EU exit which works in the interest of all agricultural sectors and land types.
NFUS attendees included Vice President Charlie Adam, chairmen from the Combinable Crops and Horticultural committees and members of the local NFU Scotland branch.
Top of the agenda for discussion were the Union’s three clear Brexit priorities of future policy support for the sector; trade policies which uphold exacting standards of production; and an immigration policy which meets the needs of the agri-food labour market.
Vice President, Charlie Adam said: “NFUS was pleased to host the new Secretary of State on-farm today. Pitgaveny Farms produce cereals, beef, pork and lamb and let out land for potatoes and carrots.
“It’s mix of conventional and organic production and commitment to high quality production provided the Minister with a comprehensive overview of all that our farming can achieve if given the right tools by governments.
“We had a constructive discussion on the unique profile of the industry and the reasons why the devolved delivery of a fully-funded, targeted future support package is so important to the needs of the industry in Scotland.”
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