The Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS), which represents Scotland’s agri-food co-ops, has launched a manifesto to prompt government action on food security and rural growth.
In the manifesto, SAOS made five recommendations to the Scottish government “to put co-operation at the heart of its approach to food security, economic resilience, and environment protection”.
The apex warns that Scotland’s food and farming industry faces a period of “unprecedented change and volatility”.
Pressures include global conflict, climate change and extreme weather, the tech revolution, and skills and funding challenges. Co-ops, argues SAOS, offer a way to navigate these challenges.
“Co-ops come in many forms,” it said. “Some allow farmers to share expensive machinery and access training. Some invest many millions in large processing facilities, others market their products under one brand.”
The model already has an impact on Scottish farming. The annual turnover of Scottish agri-food co-ops is more than £1.6bn, SAOS notes – while half of all Scottish oats, and third of milk production, come from co-ops.
“Co-operatives allow individual businesses to work together, sharing resources and pooling investment whilst retaining their individual ownership and identity,” added SAOS.
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“But despite the scale and importance of this collaborative model, and the ability of co-ops to increase resilience, and to drive innovation and environmental measures at scale, co-ops are often overlooked or forgotten about in policy-making and funding eligibility.
The manifesto sets out five steps for the government:
- Set a national ambition for co-operative growth, with a delivery strategy
- Make co-operation a preferred delivery route in agricultural policy
- Open new markets for producers who choose to work together
- Fix the funding and regulation exclusions that exclude collaborative projects rather than support them
- Commit to shared investment in infrastructure, technology and data.
The Scottish government has recognised co-operation in the Agricultural and Rural Communities Act – but, SAOS warned, “there remains no clear plan to drive forward the next generation of co-operatives”.
But the apex also notes the UK government’s committed to doubling the size of the co-operative economy.
“The challenges farmers and food producers face in the coming decade are as significant as anything over the last century,” said CEO Tim Bailey. “We are talking about the potential collapse of some global food systems, amidst a whirlwind of geopolitical conflict, rapid climate change and extreme weather.
“At the same time, we are living in an era where wealth is being increasingly transferred away from communities and into the hands of the billionaire few. Co-operatives are the mechanism to reverse this trend, to anchor wealth not in the hands of shareholders and oligarchs, but in communities where it belongs.
“Our manifesto sets out what government needs to do – and do now – to catalyse the growth and impact of the co-operative model. It is essential reading for every MSP, minister and official with a stake in food security because the asks are grounded in what our members already do.
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“There’s no shortage of warm words about co-operation from governments, regulators and industry bodies alike. It is easy to nod along and talk about working together, but the words mean nothing if they don’t, for example, unlock funding or fix criteria that the very co-operation we should be supporting.”
The manifesto will be formally launched at a Scottish Parliament reception, sponsored by Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs.
“Food security has moved significantly up the political agenda,” he said, “as Scotland’s food and farming sector faces growing volatility from climate change, geopolitical instability and disruption to supply chains. Many of these challenges cannot be tackled by individual businesses acting alone.
“Collective challenges need collective solutions and co-operation can help create the scale, resilience and investment needed to respond. This manifesto is an important contribution to the debate about how we support Scotland’s existing co-operatives and accelerate greater co-operation across our food, farming and rural economy.”
Grant Rogerson, CEO at agri services co-op ANM Group, said: “There is a strong culture of co-operation across Scotland, built around a shared commitment to rural prosperity. But government needs to share the responsibility to ensure support is targeted where it delivers the greatest impact.
“This is not about asking for more money. It is about using existing resources more effectively. Too often, policy decisions fail to reflect the realities of food production and the long-term sustainability of rural businesses and communities.”
