The food and drink industry is worth billions of pounds to the Scottish economy each year, but are we at risk of unrecoverable reputational damage as our standards drop on key products?
While there are strictly enforced rules and regulations around the production of iconic Scottish produce such as whisky, it seems the same can’t be said about one of the nation’s most revered foods.
Salmon is experiencing a sad demise on supermarket shelves at the moment as the salmon farming industry comes under fire for both the standard of product and the lack of transparency surrounding its processes.
It has been revealed that Scottish salmon sold in major stores, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Co-op, is quite literally crawling with sea lice.
Research by Salmon and Trout Conservation Scotland has shown that Scottish salmon has up to 20 times the acceptable levels of sea lice on it.
Current guidelines state that each individual fish must have no more than one parasite on it.
Once lauded the world over, the Scottish salmon is in danger of leaping off a cliff, and that can’t be good for our economy and national image.
While the quality of the product is what slaps you in the face when doing the weekly shop, if you get beneath the skin of the salmon, you’ll likely find what many believe is the root cause of the problem.
Farmed salmon is a controversial subject the world over and the industry is ramping up across Scotland, with hundreds of farms dotted along its coast, producing hundreds of thousands of tons of fish per year.
As the population of wild salmon has declined, this innovation has been seen as a necessity for the industry to continue producing fish to meet the demand of outlets such as the big UK supermarkets.
However, it doesn’t come without its critics and drawbacks. The farms can act as a breeding ground for diseases and pests such as sea lice, affecting both the health and the quality of the fish.
The environment in which the fish are bred can impact the colour of its flesh and have a wider impact on the surrounding ecosystem in Scotland’s waters.
Such has been the level of awareness raised around the issues that come with salmon farming, the Scottish salmon industry is making moves to remove the word ‘farmed’ from labelling.
Understandably, this has been met with intense backlash from animal welfare campaigners and consumers alike.
Salmon Scotland’s application to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to change the wording on packaging from “Scottish farmed salmon” to “Scottish salmon” being accepted has paved the way for producers to commence a campaign of greenwashing.
This gives me great cause for concern, not only for the industry and Scotland’s food and drink sector as a whole, but for consumers.
This small but significant change of terminology goes way beyond marketing, it’s pulling the wool over the eyes of the public and sets a dangerous precedent for potential future instances.
For me, the crisis here isn’t just in the oceans or on the shelves, there’s huge reputational risk for Scotland as a whole.
We are, rightly so, a nation proud of its produce, particularly our culinary delights.
From the sweet goodness of Irn Bru and Tunnock’s Teacakes to our two global giants, whisky and salmon, we have an immense heritage and proud history.
Our future, however, is almost as murky as the waters of our salmon farms.
Policymakers and industry big wigs need to get their heads together on the issue and find a way to get Scottish salmon back in the news for the right reasons.
My challenge to them is to make Scotland’s salmon industry world-leading again by employing innovation to improve farming practices and, thus, the quality of the produce.
Much like the process of salmon farming itself, such a negative light being cast on the industry simply isn’t sustainable for Scotland’s culinary reputation nor the health of its bank balance.
Union Street comeback shows strength in local innovation
I have discussed the state of Scotland’s high streets many times in this column, however I am delighted to see business leaders in Aberdeen taking steps to address the issue.
A new campaign has been launched to help attract entrepreneurs to Union Street, in the hope of sparking new investment into the Granite Mile.
In what has been described as the first of its kind, the ‘Our Union Street’ organisation has launched a new digital platform that will display all the street’s vacant units online.
The site details each unit’s monthly rent and rates payable, so incoming businesses can see exactly what their costs would be, while AI helps showcase how each shopfront could be used.
I think it is a genius idea. It is incredibly encouraging to see such tenacity by a group of local business owners determined to change the fortunes of their high street, and as an entrepreneur that makes the idea of investing there extremely attractive.
The fortunes of Union Street seem to be improving drastically. Over the past year, the number of vacant shops on the Granite Mile has fallen from 52 to under 30 thanks to a raft of new incentives, such as two years’ free rent and grants of up to £35,000.
It’s one of the first strategies I have seen from a local business community in Scotland that seems to be creating real impact, and so I applaud all those involved. As for other towns and cities which are struggling – take note!
It Made Me Laugh
Big Brother gets literary in Orwell-inspired sculpture
The idea of the postie delivering over a thousand copies of a book to your door seems a little dystopian, wouldn’t you agree?
Well, not for one Edinburgh-based sculptor, who is collecting 1,984 copies of George Orwell’s classic novel Nineteen Eighty-Four for a new exhibition marking 75 years since its debut.
The “living” sculpture by Hans S Clausen will be put on display in Jura at the beginning of June, where visitors will be encouraged to open and read each volume at their leisure.
It’s certainly a niche visitor attraction, but I can imagine the exhibit will encourage die-hard Orwell fans to make the trip to the tiny island.
Just be sure not to pocket any of the classic copies on display… remember, Big Brother is always watching.
It Made Me Weep
Scottish university cuts could damage global standing
I’m not surprised to have seen further criticism of the Scottish Government’s decision to impose significant budget cuts on some of the country’s best universities.
Members of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said the move puts the word-leading reputation of our top institutions “at risk” and have joined calls for urgent action to address the “growing gap in funding” faced by the higher education sector.
Investing in the next generation of talent is pivotal in ensuring Scotland remains a world leader in global industries, and that starts with providing universities with adequate funds to make that happen.
I sincerely hope this becomes a key factor in the Scottish Government’s vision for the future during this transformational period in politics.
