NFU Scotland

NFU ScotlandThe all-to-frequent, dreaded scourge of abandoned, sometimes dangerous, waste is not simply an eyesore on Scotland’s beautiful countryside; it can, and does, cause harm to livestock, crops, nature and wildlife. It is an issue that farmers are having to deal with more often, costing them not just in terms of money but also large amounts of their time. Despite recycling centres re-opening, flytipping and illegal dumping incidents are still being recorded daily by NFU Scotland members.

Cases in the past year alone have included rotting meat, hazardous asbestos waste, domestic appliances, household waste, builder’s rubble, garden cuttings, pallets, and garage waste including tyres and car batteries lined with poisonous lead. Late July resulted in some welcome, and promising, discussions to target the problem. A workshop brought together

Could the prospect of a Private

Member’s bill help tackle the unsightly blight of flytipping in

Scotland’s countryside? Asks NFU Scotland’s Environmental Resources Manager Sarah Cowie key stakeholders including the most commonly flytipped the Scottish Government, items. Zero Waste Scotland, SEPA, While there are many local authorities and national innovative and creative ideas, parks, among others. Also, there is no one single “silver Murdo Fraser Conservative bullet” to tackle the issue of MSP held a roundtable with flytipping and what is instead NFU Scotland, the Woodland required is a joined-up and Trust, Scottish Land & collaborative approach which Estates, Police Scotland and looks at everything from Keep Scotland Beautiful to accessibility of household discuss ways to tackle fly- waste recycling to the latest tipping. He believes that technology that allows people fly tipping is such a major to report flytipping with ease. issue across Scotland that The members’ bill could action needs to be taken in consider changes to the law, the form of a Members’ Bill shifting the liability for cleanto change the law when it up to the source of the waste comes to dealing with those rather than the innocent responsible. landowners. Such positive action to NFU Scotland welcomes tackle flytipping is something the positive discussions that NFU Scotland would wholly have taken place recently support. and will continue to work with Key issues relating to stakeholders including the flytipping including improving Scottish Government, Zero how the issue is reported Waste Scotland and Murdo and dealt with; how data Fraser and other MSPs to on flytipping is collated and help to find positive solutions shared; stronger penalties that will end the blight of flyto act as a deterrent; and tipping that affects farmers, introducing extended rural communities, and the producer responsibility on natural environment.

dairy £21m to make dairy industry cream of the crop

A digital dairy project aiming to create 600 new jobs in South-West Scotland and Cumbria has been awarded more than £21 million of funding.

Led by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), it is expected the Digital Dairy Value-Chain could generate an additional £60m a year for a region which produces nearly two billion litres of milk a year.

Globally, the industry produces around 3 per cent of greenhouse gases related to human activity. As well as helping to decarbonise the region’s dairy industry, the project will help to develop and retain a skilled and innovative workforce in the area to create new products and new ways of working.

These will be special to the region but also globally relevant in best practices and changing the perception of dairy as a high-value product.

Working with partners operating in the region, including the University of Strathclyde, University of the West of Scotland, CENSIS, First Milk, Lactalis UK & Ireland, Kendal Nutricare, Cows & Co Group, National Milk Records and SmartSTEMS, the project will provide a platform for research and business innovation in advanced, sustainable, highvalue production and processing.

The project team will work with the dairy industry to develop and implement technologies for sensing and data handling, as well as infrastructure to support innovation and growth for local businesses, nurturing young entrepreneurs and teaching and training of new skills and capabilities.