Strong early support for The Scottish Red Meat Resilience Group ‘Meating Our Potential’ partnership campaign

Following a powerful opening day at the Royal Highland Show 2025, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and the Scottish Red Meat Resilience Group (SRMRG) proudly launched the Meating Our Potential pledge, a collective and unwavering commitment to support and strengthen Scotland’s locally produced, sustainable red meat supply chain.

Unveiled at QMS’s business breakfast at the show to over 300 industry leaders—from farmers and processors to auctioneers and retailers—the pledge sends a clear, united message: Scotland’s producers have the full backing of the entire supply chain and both the Scottish and UK governments as they rise to meet growing consumer demand for quality, low-emissions beef, pork, and lamb.

Signatories include all 11 founding organisations of the SRMRG, alongside an expanding coalition of retailers, farming groups, agriculture and food organisations demonstrating a powerful united front to:
“Feed our growing nation with locally produced, sustainable red meat.”

The pledge was signed on-site by 28 influential leaders representing every facet of Scotland’s red meat sector, alongside senior political figures from both the Scottish and UK Governments including First Minister, John Swinney and Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray. This unprecedented show of unity highlights the sector’s determination to safeguard Scotland’s heritage of quality, sustainable red meat production while meeting the challenges of a changing global market.

Further to the full SRMRG, key industry leaders who signed include:

• Steve McLean, Head of Agriculture & Fisheries, Marks & Spencer
• Geoff Ogle, Chief Executive, Food Standards Scotland (FSS)
• Ian McWatt, Deputy Chief Executive & Director of Policy, Science and Operations, FSS
• Tim Bailey, Chief Executive, Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS)
• Chris Martindale, President, British Simmental Cattle Society
• Ben Harman, Chair, National Beef Association (NBA)
• James Hudson, Breed Secretary, British Charolais Cattle Society

Political leadership underscoring the pledge’s significance included:

• John Swinney, First Minister of Scotland
• Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform, and Islands
• Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity
• Ian Murray, Secretary of State for Scotland, UK Government
• Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands
• Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland
• Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire
• Alistair Carmichael, Chair of the UK Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA)
• Tim Eagle, MSP for Highlands and Islands

This exceptional coalition reflects a shared conviction that Scotland’s red meat sector is a cornerstone of the nation’s security, economy, environment, health and culture.

QMS Chair Kate Rowell said: “This pledge represents a defining moment for Scotland’s red meat industry. At a time when rising imports threaten our domestic supply, it is essential we stand united behind our farmers and producers. This early endorsement from across the industry and government is a strong vote of confidence in the future of Scottish beef, lamb and pork and its place at the heart of our sustainable food system.

“The Meating Our Potential pledge is more than words — it is a firm promise backed by leadership and action from across Scotland’s red meat industry to prioritise provenance, champion local farmers, and uphold the highest standards of quality and sustainability.”

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Mairi Gougeon, speaking at the QMS stand during the industry breakfast, said: While we have accepted the Climate Change Commitee's proposed carbon budget levels to reach net zero, we will not be accepting their policy recommendations which would have had a detrimental impact on our agriculture sector and wider rural economy.

“Let me be crystal clear: this government has no policy, and will have no policy, to cut livestock numbers.”

Organisations yet to sign the pledge are encouraged to join the movement for Scotland’s red meat future by signing online: Meating Our Potential Pledge

Find out more about the campaign here: https://qmscotland.co.uk/industry-development/meatingourpotential