Interviews with key informants in the higher value cheese sector in Scotland revealed that although there was a market for their products, there were multiple barriers to operating their businesses.
The research project “Costs and opportunities for Scottish products with higher value status” involved qualitative interviews with people working in and with small to medium sized higher-value cheese businesses in Scotland.
Cheese is one of the UK’s highest value (worth nearly £400 million in the first half of 2023) and growing food exports. Cheese production depends on the availability of milk and as such the two sectors are intertwined, with the dairy sector contributing £800 million to the Scottish economy in 2021.
A key theme emerging from these interviews was that, although there is a market for Scottish cheese, it was perceived to be difficult for any of the supply chain to make a profit: smaller cheese producers had high costs and difficulties in both making efficiencies or expanding, while milk suppliers had increasing costs and are at the mercy of the market. The key points emerging from the interviews were that cheese makers should recognise the higher value embodied in their products and that retailers and food service enterprises should offer a wider variety of styles of Scottish cheese.
Pictures and biographies of food security conference speakers.
This booklet highlights key research outputs from Scottish Government funded strategic research programme 2022-27 on sustainable food systems and supply. This includes research on sustainable food production from domestic agriculture through to sustainable and secure supplies of food, as well as supporting a safe and healthy diet. It provides elements of research relevant right through from farm to fork to contribute to the economy, people’s livelihoods and the health of the nation. One of the primary focuses is in developing resilient, high-quality crop, and food and drink industries that capture market value and contribute to Scotland’s economy. There is also a focus on improving agricultural practices to develop a resilient, productive sector that is abreast of new and transformative opportunities. Here we highlight examples of impact arising directly from the Strategic Research Programme and its crucial role in leveraging of further research funding to expand impact.
This booklet highlights key research outputs from Scottish Government funded strategic research programme 2022-27 on sustainable food systems and supply. This includes research on sustainable food production from domestic agriculture through to sustainable and secure supplies of food, as well as supporting a safe and healthy diet. It provides elements of research relevant right through from farm to fork to contribute to the economy, people’s livelihoods and the health of the nation. One of the primary focuses is in developing resilient, high-quality crop, and food and drink industries that capture market value and contribute to Scotland’s economy. There is also a focus on improving agricultural practices to develop a resilient, productive sector that is abreast of new and transformative opportunities. Here we highlight examples of impact arising directly from the Strategic Research Programme and its crucial role in leveraging of further research funding to expand impact.