Speaking at the launch of Quality Meat Scotland’s ‘Scottish Red Meat Industry Profile’ (18 June), Stuart Ashworth, head of economics services, warned that “there is concern that businesses are treading water during this period of uncertainty, when we still have little clarity about the implications of Brexit.
“Two years on and we are little clearer on what Brexit may mean for the Scottish red meat industry. We have no vision of what agricultural policy may look like, and producers are still assimilating the changes introduced in the wake of the last CAP reform.
“However, our industry has a great track record of resilience and adapting to change, and there are welcome indications that businesses – including several processors – are investing and adapting to help future-proof their operations.”
While processors have ‘generally found it difficult’ to achieve higher wholesale prices, total imports also ‘eased back’ in 2017 - despite growth for beef and pork, Ashworth added.
“There is now an urgent need for clarity (on Brexit) to allow businesses to plan for the future.”