Scotland well placed to capitalise on growing demand for quality food, says Savills

Scotland’s reputation for high-quality food and drink production means its farmers are well positioned to benefit from changing consumer preferences, according to Savills latest report: Spotlight: Food Beyond Today.

The report suggests the future food system will be shaped less by the need to produce greater volumes of food and more by demand for products that deliver quality, nutritional value and provenance.  At the same time, climate change, policy reform and pressure on farm profitability are driving significant change across the agricultural sector.

Savills believes Scotland is particularly well placed to respond to these trends, thanks to its strong food and drink brand, established supply chains and policy framework supporting domestic food production.  The report highlights Scotland as the most advanced of the UK nations in embedding food policy within legislation through the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act.

Hamish Logan, Food and Farming Consultant at Savills Scotland, said: “Consumers are increasingly looking beyond price alone.  They’re paying more attention to where food comes from, how it’s produced and the quality of the ingredients involved. Those are all areas where Scotland has real strengths.  From red meat and dairy to cereals and whisky, Scottish producers have built a reputation around quality and provenance, which puts them in a strong position as consumer expectations continue to evolve.”

The report points to Scotland’s malting barley sector as a leading example of a value-led supply chain.  Around 900,000 to 925,000 tonnes of malting barley are used annually by the Scotch whisky industry, supplying approximately 90% of the sector’s barley requirements.  According to Savills, the long-standing relationship between growers, maltsters and distillers demonstrates how collaboration and a shared focus on quality can deliver value throughout the supply chain.

Looking ahead, the report argues that future success will depend not only on production but also on resilience, innovation and closer collaboration across the food chain.  Investment in technology, regenerative farming practices, water management and data-driven decision making will all play an important role as businesses adapt to external pressures.

Hamish added:  “The focus is shifting from producing more food to producing better food.  Businesses that can demonstrate quality, sustainability and strong supply chain relationships are likely to be best placed to secure long-term opportunities.  Scotland already has many of the foundations in place.  The challenge now is building on those strengths to ensure food production remains both profitable and resilient for the future.”