Mission Sustain game launched by QMS

Capitalising on the messages from COP26, Quality Meat Scotland’s (QMS) Health & Education team has launched Mission Sustain, a game designed to encourage young people to engage in discussion around sustainability in Scottish farming.

The free interactive resource can be used by teachers and pupils and forms part of Learning for Sustainability, which is embedded in the curriculum, and provides key opportunities to discuss climate change and what Scotland is doing about it.

Alix Ritchie and Jennifer Robertson, QMS’ Health and Education team, are excited to connect the classroom with the sustainable practices made on farm:

“By continuing to build on our digital offering with initiatives such as Mission Sustain, we are ensuring that food and farming retains an important place in Scotland’s education curriculum.

“The game puts the user in the shoes of a livestock farmer and faced with decisions and challenges that will impact their farm’s environmental, social and economic sustainability. It is also demonstrating to young people the many skills needed in modern agriculture, including technology, statistical analysis and environmental management in addition to the more traditional practices young people often associate with farming.”

Created in partnership with Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), the scenarios are as lifelike as possible to show real life scenarios in a fun, educational way. The expanded digital offering has been well received by both the education sector and the farming industry.

Andrew and Lauren Houstoun, of Glenkilrie Farm and Glenkilrie Larder Perthshire, are supporting QMS with the development of new digital content and say it’s important for the industry to get behind educational initiatives:

“We have such a positive story to share about sustainable farming practices in Scotland and by getting involved with educational activity such as Farming Foodsteps and Mission Sustain, farmers can have a real impact on the next generation of red meat eaters.”

Mission Sustain builds on the landmark educational platform Farming Foodsteps which was launched in 2020 that supports students and pupils to explore the farm to fork journey of Scotland’s red meat.

The interactive tool was developed when the first lockdown started in March 2020 to replace the education sessions and cookery demonstrations they usually deliver in schools, alongside on-site teacher training workshops and supporting RHET Food and Farming visits.

You can find Farming Foodsteps and Mission Sustain at: qmscotland.co.uk/FarmingFoodsteps and on Twitter @scotchkitchensc.