QMS hosts farm visits for Scottish politicians on red meat sector
Councillors and MSPs tour farms to learn supply chain realities.
SCOTLAND – Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and members of the Scottish Red Meat Resilience Group have finished a round of farm-based meetings with MSPs, councillors, and parliamentary candidates.
These sessions form part of QMS’s national Meating Our Potential campaign.
Five gatherings occurred on farms in major Scottish areas, from the Highlands and Islands to the central belt, drawing politicians from various parties.
With the 2026 Scottish Parliament election approaching, QMS organised these on-site tours to offer direct views of the red meat supply chain.
The events seek to clarify the sector’s roles in the economy, communities, and environment.
They also foster discussions on local issues and prospects, such as expanding the national beef herd to match demand growth.
Regional farm engagements
The October and November 2025 visits started in central Scotland at James Hamilton’s Linlithgow farm, backed by QMS and SAYFC, where the SNP candidate for Linlithgow and East Falkirk joined.
Edinburgh and Lothians East hosted a session at Saughland Farm in Pathhead, run by Ben McClymont and the Christie family with QMS, NFUS, and AIC support; it drew a Reform UK candidate, four SNP councillors, and a Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate.
In the Highlands and Islands, Fearn Farm in Easter Ross welcomed Emma Roddick MSP (SNP) plus councillors from Conservative, SNP, Scottish Liberal Democrat, Green, and Independent parties, aided by QMS and NSA Scotland.
North East Scotland’s event took place at Farmlay in Fraserburgh with the Chapman family, QMS, SAMW, and IAAS; Karen Adam MSP (SNP) attended alongside two SNP councillors, one Reform councillor, and two Conservatives.
The West region met at Muirhouse Farm in Kilmacolm, supported by QMS, AIC, and RHET, with one Conservative, one SNP, one Reform, and one Independent councillor present.
QMS chair Kate Rowell welcomed the broad political participation and favourable responses from these latest outreach efforts.
She explained that partnering with industry for these farm tours moves past narratives to reveal the sector’s actual operations and value.
Rowell noted the format’s past success in connecting with representatives, and QMS plans more in other areas next year.
She thanked all attendees for their time engaging on rural Scotland’s priorities.
QMS joined the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) conference at Fairmont St Andrews on 13-14 November.
There, staff spoke with delegates about supply chain strength, public buying, and red meat’s place in health, schools, and green food efforts, linking local choices to rural and national impacts.
The group also ran a stand at Scotland Food & Drink’s Showcase in the Scottish Parliament on 18 November.
It promoted Scotch brand quality and the sector’s economic upsides to political figures.
QMS intends to extend these interactions through 2026, tying them to industry events under its External Affairs Strategy.
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