Meating Our Potential Hub

QMS evidence shows clear economic benefits to boosting Scotland’s red meat production. By capitalising on the economic opportunities present to us now, we can help safeguard the future of the sector and reduce reliance on imports.  

Our economic modelling forecasts that the sheep and beef sectors could inject around £350 million in output and around £100 million of GVA into the Scottish economy by 2032 should the national herd and flock see supported growth. This opportunity reflects falling UK stock numbers combined with firm demand, driven by population growth and demographic change, which is set to raise the UK net import requirement by 2032. If we allow net imports to rise, it will offshore economic activity, jobs and any associated emissions. 

Scotland’s red meat sector is currently worth £3.5bn in output and more than £1bn in GVA to the Scottish economy (2024). That value has potential to grow, with red meat exports reaching a record of £173 million in 2024/25, represented by a 26% increase on the previous year, with volume up 10%.  

Our consumer research also highlights strong public desire to support Scottish farming and ensure the sustainability of the red meat sector. Our recent, independently-commissioned survey shows eight out of 10 Scots want supermarkets to prioritise stocking Scottish red meat over imported alternatives, while seven out of 10 say they would be concerned if imported red meat became significantly more common in Scottish supermarkets (CensusWide, 2026). 

With rising export value, local demand from consumers and room to grow in Scotland’s processing capacity – currently operating at 75% – there is no better time than now to unlock the sector’s potential growth and drive economic value. This builds on QMS’s 2025 beef and sheep sector modelling and strengthens the case for a coordinated, whole-supply-chain approach to increasing sustainable red meat production, retaining more value in Scotland and supporting rural communities.

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Scottish livestock production delivers far more than food, but much of its true value is often overlooked. 

Beyond its economic contribution, farming plays a foundational role in Scotland’s rural economy, environment and communities. These wider benefits, from maintaining landscapes and boosting biodiversity to supporting local services, are not always captured in market prices or policy decisions. 

This creates a real risk: if these contributions are undervalued or overlooked, decisions made today could have unintended long-term consequences. 

These include: 

• Loss of rural community cohesion: Farming families provide year-round population stability, support local services, and play an active role in community life, helping prevent the “hollowing out” of rural areas. 

• Impacts on landscapes and cultural heritage: Livestock farming has shaped Scotland’s iconic landscapes, traditions and identity over generations, assets that underpin tourism and national pride. 

• Environmental trade-offs: Managed grazing supports biodiversity, carbon sequestration, flood mitigation and wildfire risk reduction, benefits that could be lost if systems change without careful consideration. 

• Reduced resilience of rural systems: Farming underpins a wider “foundational rural system” supporting supply chains, services and infrastructure that other sectors rely on. 

• Unintended policy consequences: Changes to land use or production that don’t fully account for these wider contributions may weaken rural economies, erode cultural assets, and require greater public intervention to replace lost services. 

Taking a broader, more holistic view of Scottish agriculture helps ensure that decisions support not just productivity — but thriving rural communities, a resilient food system, and the landscapes and heritage that define Scotland.