6 Unlocking pathways to profitability with farm carbon footprinting
JULIAN BELL
10 Sowing seeds of wellbeing to grow support
ALIX RITCHIE
14 A conversation with… Drew Young
18 Rethinking lamb castration
OSLA JAMWAL-FRASER
22 Staff Spotlight
LYNNE CARRICK
4 A new sustainable future for product development
ALISTAIR TRAIL
8 Balancing food, feed, and forage for profitable production
LORNA SHAW
12 Is Scotland’s potato industry at a crossroads of opportunity?
GAVIN PRENTICE
16 From the farm to the boardroom: a call to action for biodiversity
LORNA COLE
20 Are we doing enough to support nature positive farming on the West Coast?
JANETTE SUTHERLAND
23 Staff Spotlight KEIRA SANNACHAN
Introduction
CHLOE MCCULLOCH , HEAD OF SAC CONSULTING
Scotland’s farmers and crofters continue to show that livestock are at the heart of both our food system and our landscapes. In this edition of Perspectives, the articles highlight not only efficiency and productivity, but the environmental and cultural value that cattle and sheep bring to Scotland.
Food security remains a live issue. The contribution of Scottish livestock farming cannot be overstated, nor the importance of high-quality, traceable beef and lamb, (protected by PGI status), which forms part of a resilient supply chain from field to fork. But food security is about more than just output. It is about the way we farm –building systems that can adapt to a changing climate, shifting consumer expectations, and rising environmental pressures.
Grazing animals maintain species-rich pastures, support biodiversity and – increasingly relevant in an era where wildfire risk is becoming a reality – reducing fuel loads. On the west coast, grazing suckler cows literally shape and sustain fragile habitats, whilst calf sales provide important financial support to local economies. Those calves are then finished in highly efficient systems on farms like Girvan Mains in Ayrshire. This ‘best of both worlds’ demonstrates how traditional practices can be aligned with innovative systems to deliver biodiversity services and efficient food production.
Investment in nutrition, for all types of livestock system, is vital. Farmers often focus rightly on input costs – a £10 per tonne saving on feed will always attract attention, but Lorna Shaw reminds us to consider the value of nutrition in driving output - quicker finishing, more lambs born, reduced calving interval, improved health. Nutrition isn’t just a cost line; it’s a key driver of productivity.
Change isn’t only technical, it’s human too. The resilience of farmers and crofters, and their capacity to adapt is evident in the continued evolution of regenerative practices. Many of these are rooted in long-established methods that were paused in the post-war push for output, but are being reapplied in the present day, with added scientific innovation and knowledge. Not everyone will badge their system as ‘regenerative’ or even fully recognise the term, but many of the actions they adopt on farm are unquestionably nature positive.
Our primary sectors are also broader than livestock alone, and Gavin Prentice sets out the pressures and opportunities in seed potatoes – from export dynamics to precision agronomy. Whilst Julian Bell takes a wider perspective on how to remain profitable whilst considering farm carbon pathways, Alix Ritchie showcases the important work done by Farmstrong, and you also get to meet two of our consultants, Keira Sannachan and Lynne Carrick.
All in all, it’s a busy 10th edition of Perspectives… and one which we hope you will enjoy!
Get in touch
chloe.mcculloch@sac.co.uk
A new sustainable future for product development
ALISTAIR TRAIL, PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT AND MORAG HAMILTON, NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT CHEF, SAC CONSULTING
As consumer demand increasingly shifts toward responsible consumption, sustainable new product development (NPD) is no longer a niche concern but a core driver of brand success. From traditional distilleries and artisanal producers to global food exporters, Scottish businesses are recognising that long-term growth depends on the ability to innovate sustainably. Today’s consumers, both local and international, want more than premium taste; they demand environmental responsibility, transparency, and traceability.
In the younger demographics, buyers are increasingly choosing brands that align with their personal values. Whether it is plant-based food, low-carbon packaging, or regenerative farming, decisions are driven by more than price and flavour. Research consistently shows that sustainability is influencing purchasing decisions more than ever.
According to Zero Waste Scotland, 65% of Scots say they try to buy products with less environmental impact.
For Scottish producers, this presents both a challenge and a golden opportunity.
Sustainable NPD goes beyond creating something new – it is about doing it better, cleaner, and smarter. It involves developing food and drink products with minimal environmental impact, ethical sourcing, low waste, and high transparency. NPD is the engine of growth for the food and drink sector, but sustainable NPD takes it a step further, embedding environmental social, and ethical considerations into every stage of the development cycle.
This includes:
• Sourcing sustainably: Using local, seasonal, and regenerative agriculture to reduce emissions and support biodiversity.
• Eco-design: Creating packaging that is recyclable, compostable or reusable to minimise plastic waste.
• Energy efficiency: Implementing carbon-saving practices across manufacturing and logistics.
• Waste reduction: Designing circular product lifecycles that eliminate waste and valorise by-products.
NPD by promoting resource efficiency, minimising waste and creating new innovative food products from by-products or under-utilised raw materials.
At SAC Consulting, we specialise in sustainable NPD for Scotland’s food and drink sector helping brands transform bold ideas into successful market-ready products that are future-fit, environmentally responsible, and commercially viable. We have supported many forward-thinking Scottish brands through their sustainability journeys. A few recent highlights of how we have used circular economy principles to support businesses with sustainable NPD include:
• Transforming soft fruit waste into unique culinary delights: An Aberdeenshire soft fruit grower worked with us to repurpose surplus strawberries and raspberries into value-added products. This included a range of fruit vinegars - offering a local alternative to balsamic for salads - as well as a shelf-stable strawberry tart jelly which is perfect for cakes, scones, and pancakes.
• Tepache - a naturally fermented pineapple drink: Tepache is a refreshing, lightly sparkling beverage made using the often overlooked by-product of the tinned pineapple industry. By fermenting pineapple skins with raw cane sugar, we created a refreshing beverage that is as sustainable as it is flavourful.
• Buttermilk - from waste product to high end sauce: Traditionally used as animal feed, buttermilk (a by-product of butter making) is being reimagined. We are currently developing a range of savoury and sweet sauces using this ingredient, providing our client with premium, flavour-rich products suitable for farm shops or high-quality ready meals.
it is a strategic advantage. Businesses that embed sustainability into NPD often benefit from:
• Higher margins for premium ethical products
• Increased brand trust and loyalty
• New export potential to climate-conscious global markets
• Improved resilience against regulatory and climate risks
• Access to investment from ESG-focused funds
Sustainable NPD can also play a crucial role in food and drink marketing by aligning innovation with growing consumer demand for environmentally responsible choices. Marketing these sustainable innovations effectively, to highlight transparency, traceability and impact, builds brand trust and loyalty. Furthermore, sustainable NPD allows brands to tap into emerging trends such as plant-based diets, zero-waste initiatives, and circular economy practices, positioning them as forward-thinking leaders in the food and drink industry.
Sustainable product innovation is no longer a nice-to-have - it is what defines successful brands. Whether you are looking to reformulate an existing product, explore a new category or launch a fully sustainable brand from scratch, we are ready to help you make it happen. Let us help put your vision into action and bring to market food and drink products that are good for people, the planet, and your bottom line.
Get in touch
alistair.trail@sac.co.uk
Unlocking pathways to profitability with farm carbon footprinting
JULIAN BELL, PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT, AGRECALC (PART OF SRUC)
While few people are now arguing whether climate change is happening, many are still wondering whether it's up to them to do anything about it. There are also many out there - such as governments and buyers - asking others to act. Often, this is directed at the farmer.
The question as a farmer, and as an individual, is what action should you take? This is not about whether you believe in climate change, it is about whether taking action is going to make you better off. And this means that tackling climate change on your farm is increasingly a business issue.
At SRUC, we are seeing a wide range of business use cases, for undertaking carbon audits and to further manage carbon emissions. But what is driving different users to ask for farm carbon footprints and what can farmers achieve from undertaking them?
Some general objectives might include;
• Government: Reducing National Inventory GHG emissions, supporting the wider economy
• Farmers: Maximising financial and business benefits through increased market or subsidy income, reducing costs.
To make the most of this, farmers need to further define what they personally want to achieve from carbon footprinting and particularly how this impacts their wider business objectives. This could be to save costs, improve profitability, protect/maximise subsidy income, reduce staff workload, reduce risk or diversify income.
It could also reflect existing planned business changes such as
• When it comes to farm output, do they want to maintain, reduce or increase it?
• Which carbon emissions to reduce? Is it whole farm emissions or emissions per unit of product?
Working through these different aspects, farmers should be able to distil these down into a clear rationale. This can then be applied in many different ways; to measure and reduce emissions per unit of product (e.g. per kg of beef, tonne of potatoes) to secure supply chain contracts, to increase output to meet buyer requests, to secure subsidy income, to maintain output, to reduce emissions, or save costs to support profitability.
Measure twice, cut once
The drivers may be different, but they all depend on getting the carbon report right in the first place. Consistency of data collection is essential, and it can be achieved by capturing data as closely as possible the same way between years on individual farms. If it’s not, it will be difficult or even impossible to identify the impact of any changes on emissions. Farmers can collate this information themselves or work closely with a knowledgeable advisor familiar with the farm, who can guide them through this process.
Investing time in getting that first baseline carbon footprint correct and making notes about the key assumptions will pay off in the long run. It can then meet what is required to fulfil supply chain and government support requirements.
Finding the gains
Once an accurate and comprehensive carbon report has been prepared, this forms the baseline upon which different future actions can be assessed for their effects on carbon emissions and in meeting the farm’s business objectives.
From an emissions point of view, targeting the farm’s largest sources of emissions is the place to start. It is also likely to reflect some of the main farm costs such as livestock, fertiliser or fuel, and can therefore be used to direct actions at the highest farm costs.
Emissions vs Comparison
Agrecalc sources of emissions in beef production versus comparisons.
The range of mitigation actions farms can consider is wide. The farmer can do this themselves or they can choose to draw on the support of a trusted adviser. Our consultants are experienced in this and work with the farmer to understand current practices, interests and abilities to implement new practices. In every case, practices are only considered that are practical to achieve and will enhance the financial performance of
the farm in the short to longer run. It also has to be recognised that all farms face constraints; staff time and knowledge, and capital with existing farming systems all having their limits.
The best mitigations are no-regret solutions that work well for the farm irrespective of any carbon impacts. These generally revolve around improving productivity, gaining more output for the same purchased inputs with less waste. While higher output does not necessarily mean higher profitability, greater efficiency of input use nearly always does.
For example, on grazing livestock farms, improving the management of pasture and grazing while limiting the use of inputs such as feed and fertiliser has been shown to reduce emissions per unit (beef/dairy) by up to 10-20%. Purchased fertiliser can be displaced by clover and by making better use of manures, while purchased feed can be reduced through better forage quality. This often requires more management time and investment in learning new techniques or equipment that not all farming businesses can spare, but over time can be repaid.
Understanding in greater detail where inputs are being used and what is being produced as a result can help direct efforts across arable units. Taking care not to compromise the yield and quality of crops is paramount when reducing fuel, fertiliser and spray applications. Trialling any changes at a smaller scale first before wider adoption are recommended.
Implementing changes to reduce carbon can be difficult, especially for businesses that are already under strain, yet we know that the financial savings can be significant. The market is also increasingly looking for farmers who can demonstrate their carbon efficiency in producing food. The key for farmers when cutting carbon emissions is not simply to try and meet the many demands others are making of them, but to meet their own objectives, building a better business as a result.
Get in touch
julian.bell@sac.co.uk
Balancing food, feed, and forage for profitable production
LORNA SHAW, RUMINANT NUTRITIONIST, SAC CONSULTING
Having the right nutrition is one of the key drivers for any successful livestock business. In 2023/24, feed costsincluding related expenses such as grass establishment and fertilisertypically made up 18–35% of total input costs for the average Less Favoured Area (LFA) livestock production system with fixed costs like housing and machinery also linked to feeding and production efficiency.
The diet offered will also be crucial to not only managing the performance of that animal but also its overall health and well-being. The balance of optimising production output (meat or milk) and managing input costs is undoubtedly the key to managing a successful livestock business.
The first step in optimising outputs from a livestock production system is to establish production goals. Not all systems will look the same; some may work on a lowinput, low-output model, whereas others may aim for high-input, high-output, and everything in between.
What is most important is that the performance achieved meets the goals set out on the farm to monitor success fully. For breeding livestock, performance will be the number of pregnant animals, and the ability to rear young (including milking and mothering ability), with the number of young alive at weaning being the most important output. For meat or milk producing animals, performance will be measured by saleable output, most importantly the ability to convert feed to meat or milk and measured by average daily weight gain in kg or kg of milk produced (also known as the feed conversion ratio).
Feed conversion is at its lowest (i.e., less food for most output) while an animal is young and going through its growth phase. This is the stage where the animal will partition most of its consumed energy into growth and, therefore, production rather than maintenance. As the animal matures, the nutrients required for daily maintenance will subsequently increase. Making the most of the growth period and optimising performance during this stage is one of the best ways to optimise outputs and use the inputs available.
The next piece of the puzzle is to manage the cost of the inputs needed to meet the requirements for production. Managing input costs is not necessarily just cutting the cost of feeds; it can be achieved in several ways, including:
• Optimising the use of grazing: grazing will almost always be the cheapest source of nutrition for a cattle and sheep farming system.
• Reducing grazing inputs: this can be achieved by introducing more diversity to swards, optimising soil health and including nitrogen-fixing plants, such as clovers, to reduce the requirement for fertiliser.
• Improving the quality of preserved forage offered: more nutrients in forage, less supplementary feed required.
• Tailor the feed system to best suit available resources: this may include forage, cereals or protein grown on farm.
• Increasing production to reduce days to finish: fewer days on farm results in less feed needed over the animal's lifetime.
All ruminant diets (any mammal with a multi-chambered stomach) must include a source of functional fibre - typically forage such as grass silage, straw, hay, or cereal whole crop - to support rumen microbes. Recognising the quality of forage offered is essential for balancing the ration, meeting all animal needs, and optimising nutritional intake and costs. Forage quality can be assessed through laboratory analysis using either near-infrared spectrometry (NIRs) or Wet Chemistry techniques. This is another essential step that should be taken to optimise livestock business efficiency.
It can be easy to focus on the value of the product being sold and the sum of the cheque coming back into the business, but the margin left after costs will be the factor that ultimately determines if that business has been successful or not. Nutrition is an essential factor to keep any livestock functioning responsible for maintenance, determining production outputs and aiding the overall health of any animal to lower intervention. But we should also consider the impact of nutrition on business profitability.
To quote Dr John Paterson, a Livestock Nutritionist at Montana State University:
“The most profitable producers are those who understand that nutrition is an investment, not an expense.”
Anyone in farming and crofting communities know, life on the land comes with ups and downs. It is the nature of the job given its exposure to so many changeable external factors dominated by the weather, finances and the day-to-day of getting the work done.
During busy times, or when things do not go to plan, it is important to always remember that our resilience and ability to cope relies on us looking after our wellbeing. We must bank the better times to fill the reserves, so that we have something stored for the more intense periods in our lives. This has included SRUC, who kindly supported our initial survey and research, ensuring the need for Farmstrong and supporting the development of the programme. As well as SAC Consulting having helped us cover costs during various events and tours, offering spaces for meetings, or raising funds and awareness of Farmstrong. The momentum we have gained, and continue to receive, wouldn’t have been possible without this positive show of support.
This is very much the philosophy at Farmstrong Scotland, a relatively new charity, emulating a programme originally created in 2015 in New Zealand’s farming community. Through peer-to-peer stories and tips, supported by research, the programme provides a range of insights, tools, and events to help Scottish farmers and crofters make small changes that will have a big impact on their wellbeing.
Each year, we survey hundreds of farmers and crofters to understand the challenges they face and the techniques they use to stay positive and healthy. With guidance from wellbeing advisors, we have developed tools and resources to help with stress management, better sleep, and building a more resilient mindset. This enables us to share science-backed resources in the areas people can struggle with.
Despite working in the same sectors, Farmstrong does not replicate the important one-to-one advice offered by organisations like RSABI, Breathing Space, the Samaritans, and the NHS, who all do a wonderful job in their own spaces. Farmstrong’s role is to promote better wellbeing behaviours to help farmers and crofters to live well so that they can farm and croft well, in the hope that the need for individual support diminishes.
We must bank the better times to fill the reserves.
Our Wellbeing Hub is full of podcasts, case studies and videos featuring real experiences – each one telling a very different story about how people improve and maintain their wellbeing on a day-to-day basis. In addition to this, the Five Ways to Wellbeing approach is fundamental to Farmstrong’s guidance, focusing on small, simple steps that can be developed into habits to help you keep on top of things. International research shows that people who follow these five practices thrive: being active, connecting, giving, taking notice, and keeping on learning.
This year, we have focused especially on connection, which runs through everything we do. From hosting events, attending summer agricultural shows, or working with people who are hosting events in their community - these connections all help us to spread the message and normalise conversations about wellbeing.
Our events are created to bring people together, always in a place where they will be comfortable. We’ve run ‘Walk & Talks’ on farms up and down the country, held Blether Together Live evening events on farms and in rugby clubs, and encouraged and supported community-led events that invite our agricultural networks to come together and look after their social wellbeing – all whilst ensuring we laugh as well as learn something new.
We know that getting away from the farm is not always possible, so it is important to bring events and resources to people - wherever they are. The Blether Together podcast is a monthly conversation with people talking openly about their lives and their personal wellbeing hacks. Hosted by former BBC journalist, Sarah Stephen, each podcast is relatable and delivered in a warm and uplifting style for listeners to enjoy while they work.
The contributors who have shared their stories play a huge role in spreading the word and impact of our core messages. The support that we have received has been overwhelming, from our founding funders Movember, The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust, and RHASS, to every individual who has fundraised for us, told their story, attended an event or visited our show stands – the momentum we have gained wouldn’t have been possible without this positive show of support.
It is important to continue to build on this progress – our new Farmstrong Supporters webpage allows visitors to explore the range of different options to show support – from hosting an event, to sharing our resources, or fundraising for Farmstrong, there are lots of ways to get involved.
If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, talk to someone. Contact your doctor, RSABI (24-hours); 0808 123 4555 Breathing Space: 0800 838 587 or Samaritans (24-hours): 116 123.
hello@farmstrongscotland.org.uk
www.farmstrongscotland.org.uk
Is Scotland’s potato industry at a crossroads of opportunity?
To some, a potato is just something that ends up mashed on a plate or crisped in a fryer. But, in Scotland, the potato is part of a proud agricultural heritage and a cornerstone of the rural economy, where ideal soils and climate have helped produce some of the finest seed and ware potatoes in the world.
Today, however, Scotland’s potato industry stands at a critical juncture. Faced with climate volatility, changing trade dynamics, pest and disease threats, and rising input costs, growers and the wider supply chain are being challenged like never before. Yet, amid these pressures, innovation and resilience are driving new possibilities, from precision agriculture to alternative export strategies.
Scotland produces approximately one million tonnes of potatoes annually, with a significant portion being high-grade seed potatoes exported globally. Scottish seed potatoes have a reputation for health and quality, thanks to strict disease controls, cool growing conditions that limit pests, and generations of expertise. Key export markets have traditionally included Egypt, Morocco, the Canary Islands, and previously parts of Europe. But the importance of potatoes in Scotland goes beyond export statistics; they support hundreds of farms and rural communities and feed into the UK food industry and supermarket supply chains. They are a part of Scotland’s identity - from local chippies to Burns Night suppers.
One of the most disruptive shifts in recent years has been the loss of access to EU markets for Scottish seed potatoes post-Brexit, resulting in an estimated loss of £11 million annually. As of July 2025, exports to the EU remain blocked. However, earlier this year, political agreements between the UK and EU have agreed to allow Scottish seed potato exports.
Although the political agreement is in place, the legal texts still need to be drafted, published and approved before any changes can come into effect. At present, there is no confirmed timeline for when trade will restart, but growers will be hoping for positive news soon! Since 2020, many growers and companies have had to pivot to alternative markets- some successfully, others with difficulty.
The Scottish seed potato market has had a major shakeup in recent years, not least due to Brexit but also the way we trade with our largest export market, Egypt.
Egypt takes over 50,000 tonnes of Scottish seed annually, accounting for a whopping 60% of the total export markets supplied. The potatoes are shipped in a short space of time between September and December, and causing a logistical headache for marketing companies and growers. This is particularly the case as each 25-tonne load is typically packaged in 50kg hessian sacks, placed on (heat treated) wooden pallets, sent by refrigerated containers via trucks to ports and then eventually loaded onto large vessels.
The market was largely serviced by seed companies, acting as intermediaries between producers and customers, providing protection when things do not go to plan. However, over the past five years, independent Egyptian buyers have been dealing directly with Scottish growers, cutting out the middlemen and often paying a premium with money upfront prior to shipment. This has proved a tempting offer for many- new entrants and ware growers alike. The seed area planted for in demand Egyptian varieties has rocketed this year, which is likely to cause potential oversupply and reduced prices. Scottish growers have a lot of eggs in the Egyptian basket, and I worry some might be over-committed and unprotected if the trade were to collapse.
Fertiliser prices remain volatile following global supply disruptions. Labour, machinery, and chemical costs are up. Energy costs - particularly for long-term crop in cold storage - are biting hard. And, for the ware growers, despite recent improvements, supermarkets continue to exert downward price pressure. Therefore, growers are often being squeezed from both sides.
Climate change has brought milder winters and warmer summers to countries throughout Europe, with weather extremes frequently more common. In turn, the agriculture landscape has become trickier, with Scotland no exception. For potatoes, virus vectoring aphids have increased significantly and colonised in crops much earlier in 2025. Potato leaf roll virus (PLRV) is now one of the major challenges facing Scottish production, like our European friends. And that is also a threat to the entire UK supply chain. Going back in time, pre-2020, you would be hard pushed to see many leaf roll infected plants across Scotland’s 10,000 ha of seed production. We are not entirely sure what has caused this damaging rapid expansion in recent years, but we have several theories. These include over-wintering aphid survival, chemistry and timings of applications, the potential for less symptomatic virus strains, management practices, varieties, and extended field generations.
The situation is complex, but the good news is that Scottish seed remains in demand and much healthier than that of our competitors. With the need to tackle challenges head on, investments in science, technology, research and development, field trials and breeding across the sector is under way. More farms are turning to precision agriculture, implementing soil sensors, drone monitoring and satellite imagery to make real-time decisions on irrigation, fertiliser applications, and disease control. This can reduce inputs, cut carbon emissions, and support healthier crops. These technologies are becoming increasingly affordable, and support through government grants are available, like The Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS).
Potato growers, processors, exporters, and policymakers are beginning to work more closely together to build a cohesive national potato strategy. Co-operatives like the Seed Potato Organisation (SPO) are uniting growers to protect export markets, chemistry and support research and development.
The Scottish potato industry has never faced greater complexity. With targeted investment, collaboration and support, potatoes could be one of the country’s most important future crops, not just historically significant, but globally relevant.
Whether you are a grower in Aberdeenshire, a chef in Edinburgh, or a policymaker in Brussels, what happens in Scotland’s potato fields matters to everyone.
A conversation with Drew Young
From a 423-acre family farm in Girvan, to a thriving 3,000-acre enterprise, Drew Young has built his career on diversification, innovation, and a belief in the power of community. Alongside his family, Drew has transformed Girvan Mains into a business rooted in tradition, yet unafraid to embrace change.
Drew’s farming journey began at just seven years old when his family moved to Girvan Mains in South Ayrshire. By 18, he was running the farm full-time after his father stepped back.
“Back then, we were a beef unit, growing potatoes and grain. Today, we are focused on three main enterprises: beef production, potato growing and renewable energy.”
With 450-470 suckler cows and thousands of cattle finished each year, the Young family produces premium Scotch Beef supplied to customers including Campbells Prime Meats and Trump Turnberry Resort. A turning point came in 1989, when Drew became a founding director of Girvan Early Growers, a local growers’ cooperative established to supply supermarkets with early potatoes.
“It started because individually, none of us could meet the volumes or consistency supermarkets needed. Working together allowed us to invest in shared machinery, grading facilities, and storage. It has been key to our long-term success.”
Today, the co-op grows both early and main crop potatoes, with members using shared specialist equipment but running their own farms.
This collaborative approach has kept costs down, improved efficiency, and strengthened the local farming network.
A milestone moment came when Ayrshire New Potatoes were awarded Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status. This recognition means that the potatoes can only carry the name if they are grown in Ayrshire, where the sandy soils, mild coastal climate, and generations of farming know-how combine to produce their distinctive flavour and quality.
“PGI status gives customers confidence that they are buying the genuine article. It also helps to secure the future for Ayrshire potato growers by highlighting the provenance and care that goes into every crop.”
In 2017, Girvan Mains installed an anaerobic digester next to a water treatment plant, generating electricity and producing dried digestate for animal bedding. It takes by-products from the beef enterprise, dung, and slurry, which makes their entire system more sustainable.
Despite always having an eye on what other changes or diversifications may be beneficial, Girvan Mains has narrowed its focus to maintain efficiency and resilience.
Part of his success also comes from strong partnerships, including a long-standing relationship with SAC Consulting’s, Raymond Crerar, who has worked with the family for years, regularly visiting to review the business and forward planning.
“Raymond has been helping us for years now. It is great for James and David to have someone who they trust to talk to and learn from.”
In summer 2025, Drew took his first extended break from harvest in over 40 years to spend six weeks travelling around Australia. The trip combined family visits, rugby test matches, and an agricultural exploration. From the vast Brahman cattle stations of Western Australia to the Angus-dominated feedlots of Queensland, Drew was struck by both the differences and similarities to Scottish farming.
“The scale is extraordinary. You drive for hours and will still be on the same farm, but the fundamentals are the same: producing quality livestock efficiently."
He also noted the global importance of markets and the impact of consumer behaviour.
“Australia exports heavily to Asia, especially China and Japan, but there is growing demand to reduce hormones in beef production. That is being driven by consumer expectations - something we are seeing more of in Scotland too.”
For Drew, farming success has always gone hand in hand with supporting others. In 2022, he and his wife Ann celebrated their 60th birthdays by hosting a charity event in place of gifts. They raised an astonishing £70,000 for RSABI and Camphill Blair Drummond.
“It started as a casual idea to raise £10,000 for each charity, then it just snowballed. Friends, family, suppliers, and the local community were incredibly generous. We had auctions, raffles, and even the meal was sponsored with produce donated by our partners. It was a real team effort, and it blew us away.”
As Girvan Mains continues to grow, Drew is gradually stepping back from daily management to give his sons James and David increasing oversight and responsibility. His focus is on ensuring the farm remains resilient, adaptable, and open to new opportunities. Yet, as he points out, technology alone is not enough to create security.
“Running a modern farm means keeping a close eye on every penny and finding knowledgeable staff is one of the toughest challenges. It is the same in Australia, finding good people is difficult. Not only that, the cost of vital elements, like machinery, are through the roof. With outlay costs so high, it is no wonder that some smaller farms struggle because they cannot justify the costs.”
Despite the many pressures, Drew keeps his sense of humour about the practicalities of life on the farm.
“A lot of people who know us probably think we are mad, but that is just in the genes. It is part of what we do. Farming is ridiculously demanding work, but it is also incredibly rewarding when you see the chances you take paying off or the next generation taking the reins.”
From the farm to the boardroom: a call to action for biodiversity
LORNA COLE, SENIOR ECOLOGIST, SAC CONSULTING
Scotland is globally renowned for its natural beauty - wild rugged landscapes, clear clean waters, and iconic wildlife.
These natural assets underpin Scotland as a top tourist destination and alongside our high environmental standards add value to Scottish produce. Our whiskies with their distinctive taste derived from water trickling through 10,000-year-old peatlands, wild salmon caught from our pristine rivers, and Scottish lamb with its unique flavour derived from grazing on saltmarsh or heather moorland.
Yet despite this value, the State of Nature Scotland 2023, a report that tracks how our natural environment is faring makes for sobering reading. Headline messages indicate that 11% of species are threatened with extinction, that seabirds have declined by 49% since 1986 and that the distribution of flowering plants has declined by 47% since the 1970s.
Delve a little deeper, however, and we can see glimmers of hope. Pollinating insects, benefitting from warmer summers and pollinator friendly interventions, have increased by 30% - bucking trends in the rest of the UK, and indeed in many areas across the globe. Freshwater insects such as mayflies, caddisflies, dragonflies, and stoneflies have rapidly increased by 339% since their
1978 baseline, highlighting improvements to water quality following the implementation of the Water Framework Directive. These changes clearly demonstrate how action on the ground shaped by policy and legislation can drive positive change.
Biodiversity is under pressure from multiple, often interconnected forces, many of which stem from land use and land management. In Scotland, farmers and crofters manage around 80% of land, placing them at the centre of both the challenge and the solution. From farm to the boardroom, there is growing recognition that supporting nature and food production, can, and indeed must, go hand in hand.
Nature and agriculture are inherently intertwined. Healthy soils and ecosystems rich in biodiversity are the foundations of resilient food systems. These natural assets are our insurance policy, building resilience to an ever-changing environment.
Post-World War II a drive for self-sufficiency in food production, aided by innovation, pushed agriculture to prioritise yield over anything else. This focus on yield came at a cost: degraded soils, fragmented habitats and declines in biodiversity. Now a growing concern across the supply chain is revolutionising the way we farm. Yield is no longer king. From farm to supermarket shelf, we are increasingly aware of our dependencies and impacts on nature.
Across the globe, farms are working with nature to regenerate soils and restore ecosystems. In this changing landscape regenerative agriculture and biodiversity are starting to take centre stage.
Until recently, carbon has dominated the corporate sustainability agenda. However, with growing pressure from banks, regulators and consumers, nature is now entering the boardroom. Forward-looking corporations are identifying nature-related risks, setting biodiversity targets, and investing in nature-positive supply chains. Yet, unlike carbon, there is no single way to measure biodiversity. It is multifaceted, local, and dynamic.
This complexity makes it challenging to define targets or track progress – but it is also what makes biodiversity so valuable.
A farm’s biodiversity is as unique as the farm itself. As an agricultural ecologist, I have walked hundreds of farms. I have marvelled at ancient oak trees, listened to skylarks singing and dancing in the sky, and strolled through species-rich meadows teeming with insects. How do you quantify that?
There is no silver bullet for biodiversity, but there are principles that can guide action.
First, companies need to set credible, measurable targets that reflect both their dependence on and impact upon biodiversity. This is the essence of double materiality - shifting beyond a narrow focus on financial risk to also account for broader environmental and societal impacts. For example, soil health indicators reflect a farm’s capacity to sustainably produce food – a key dependency. Meanwhile, metrics like farmland bird populations or water quality can track ecological impact.
Second, biodiversity monitoring must be robust and practical to implement across supply chains. Metrics should be grounded in the realities of farming and designed to support both corporate reporting and better on-farm decision-making.
Transition plans should be co-designed and provide opportunities for upskilling across supply chains. Crucially, they must give farmers the flexibility to choose actions that are both nature-positive, and economically viable.
For the first time, there is real momentum and a genuine opportunity for corporations to partner meaningfully with farmers, crofters, and land managers. Not just to reduce harm, but to restore the ecosystems that sustain our food, our economy, and our wellbeing.
Scotland’s rich agricultural heritage, world-renowned landscapes and progressive environmental policies, makes it uniquely placed to lead the way in championing nature-friendly farming. Real change requires collaboration. By investing in practical monitoring, driving innovation, and fostering collaboration across the supply chain we can demonstrate what is possible when we put nature at the heart of decision-making.
Now is the time to turn commitment into action and ensure Scotland’s food systems are not only resilient and nature-positive, but recognised globally for leading the way in sustainable food production.
At SAC Consulting, we often function as a bridge between the evolving demands of supply chains and the day-to-day realities of farming. Working closely with farmers, crofters, and land managers, we also engage with businesses and policymakers who are setting increasingly ambitious sustainability targets. We connect these worlds and co-design practical, nature-positive solutions that work in the real world. In translating policy and sustainability targets into farm-level actions, we ensure that change is shaped not just by compliance, but by collaboration.
With the emergence of innovative new methods for lamb castration and tail docking, the Scottish Government is considering regulatory changes to accepted practices - potentially as early as 2028.
Currently, rubber rings (ringing) remain the most widely used technique. Introduced to the UK from New Zealand in the 1950s, it was once seen as a major welfare improvement. Today, however, concerns about pain - especially during castration - are mounting. Rubber rings can be applied legally up to seven days of age without anaesthetic. In Scotland, legal requirements differ from the rest of the UK, and from seven days to twelve weeks, rings may still be used provided a licensed local anaesthetic is administered. Until recently, options for older lambs were limited to clamping with a Burdizzo (up to 12 weeks) or surgical castration by a vet (over 12 weeks).
For flocks lambing indoors or on in-bye land, these methods are manageable - though pain responses can still lead to issues like mismothering. But for extensive hill flocks, ringing within seven days is often impractical. The Burdizzo is not as widely used as it could be, and vets are not routinely castrating older lambs. Until now, animal health and welfare inspectors have not focused on enforcement, given the lack of viable alternatives.
That is changing. With new techniques commercially available, a crackdown on illegal ringing without pain relief is likely. This shift may prompt producers to reassess their practices - and even question the wholesale need for castration altogether.
Some have long argued that castration is not essential for the prime lamb market.
Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) offers a helpful guide comparing the pros and cons of leaving ram lambs entire or using the short scrotum method. In Ireland and elsewhere, many prime lambs go to slaughter entire, with little pushback from abattoirs or consumers. Whether Scottish supply chains consistently accept entire lambs - or whether prices would suffer in some areas - is less clear. For slower-maturing native breeds, leaving lambs entire is not viable, and managing sexually mature animals poses logistical challenges.
Leading the shift toward improved welfare and compliance are two new methods designed by Numnuts and ClipFitter.
Numnuts, now licensed in Scotland for lambs up to 12 weeks old, uses a modified applicator that administers both a rubber ring and a dose of anaesthetic. The basic mechanism remains the same - constriction causes the testicles to wither and shed.
ClipFitter, also licensed for lambs up to 12 weeks, uses a clip (similar to a kitchen bag clip) that severs the spermatic cords in a similar way to a Burdizzo, while also completely severing the nerves to the scrotum blocking pain signals. The clip stays in place, cutting off blood flow until the testicles shed.
Results from preliminary SRUC research indicate that there were some welfare improvements with Numnuts with local anaesthetic. Licensed local anaesthetic (such as procaine and adrenaline) is available in Scotland through your vet for use with Numnuts, but further trials are needed to fully understand the benefits across different ages and systems. ClipFitter showed a greater welfare benefit, with clear reductions in both immediate and delayed pain responses. With support from the Scottish Government, SRUC has also produced a technical note (www.fas.scot/downloads/tn679castration-and-tail-docking-in-lambs) and training videos for those who want to find out more.
More research and industry experience are needed. Anecdotal evidence suggests that delaying castration and improving pain management may boost daily live weight gain - but no formal studies have confirmed this. Cost remains a major barrier. Both methods are significantly more expensive than traditional ringing, especially for small producers. Even with strong market prices, margins remain razor-thin, particularly in Less Favoured Areas (LFA). Most producers have no way to pass on added costs.
Despite this, adoption is growing. In 2025, 200,000 ClipFitter clips were sold in Scotland - a record, but still just a fraction of the 3.15 million lambs born each year. To support uptake, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) funded a pilot project in Shetland and the Black Isle, offering free access to equipment and training. The initiative will expand across the HIE region next lambing season, with SAC Consulting events and support from the Highlands and Islands Veterinary Service Scheme, where possible. No similar initiative currently exists for Numnuts.
Feedback from the pilot areas has been mixed. Many producers had positive experiences and plan to continue using ClipFitter. Others faced significant challenges. Though tempting to blame 'user error', without a robust support network, individual producers may struggle to gain the necessary skills and experience without risking animal welfare.
Projects like the HIE pilot are a step forward, but more is needed. Vets, too, are navigating unfamiliar territory - castration and tail docking are typically outside their routine remit, and troubleshooting these new methods is not yet part of standard practice.
There is no question that these new techniques have a place, and that the government is right to push for the eradication of illegal practices. But meaningful change requires more than regulation. It demands investment in research, training, and support.
In an era where 'data-driven decision making' is the policy buzzword, there is a risk of assuming that new techniques can simply be rolled out - and that crofters, farmers, and overstretched vets will just have to get on with it. If this is to be a positive shift, producers need time, resources, and tailored support to adopt new methods in ways that work for their animals and their businesses.
Get in touch
osla.jamwalfraser@sac.co.uk
Are we doing enough to support nature positive farming on the West Coast?
Suckler cows in the north west of Scotland and Islands provide three main outputs. They produce store calves for the supply chain, heifers as replacement cows for their own and other herds – and they also provide wildlife benefits.
The system of young (store) west coast calves being sold to specialised finishers is an efficient use of land resources. It also allows cows to continue to benefit habitats in the west for rare species such as corncrake, twite and hen harrier.
This system keeps finishing animals nearer the source of straw and centres of population. It also ensures that the dung is available for maintaining organic matter in arable soils on the east coast of Scotland.
Weaned calf sales are an excellent example of ‘informal collaboration’ as it is the quantity of quality calves from various crofts and farms that is the draw to the buyers. Truly, the whole is greater than the parts.
In places like Skye, where I croft, the way cattle are farmed can often be described as nature positive. Grazing on moorland areas, for example, can help create niche habitats, where hen harriers flourish. Cattle grazing helps maintain species-rich grassland where plants and grazing animals have evolved together. It can even reduce the fuel load which helps prevent wildfires. These diverse habitats create a wildlife-rich landscape.
The current system on the island supports a lot of low intensity agriculture. Another factor on Skye is that there are only small amounts of fertiliser used, which helps the native grasses and wildlife.
Another example of agriculture and nature working hand in hand has been a boost in numbers of endangered corncrakes on Skye, thanks to crofters changing the way they make silage for their cattle.
However, the Scottish cattle herd is falling in size and the way cattle keepers are supported financially is also set to change. So far, with initiatives like the Scottish Beef Calf Scheme, there does not seem to be any clear reward for maintaining cows in areas where the grazing pattern of moorland and diverse grassland swards, as well as resting fields for late cut silage, is a positive for wildlife. However, the recent derogation for herds with less than ten calves is very welcome.
The current support payments help maintain these systems. Most of these systems are supported through Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme (LFASS) and there is a real risk of wildlife loss if future reform of these payments does not take these existing nature positive benefits into account.
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Policy must recognise the whole picture in diverse areas, rather than there being a one-size-fits-all approach. Current strong store prices are helping to maintain confidence, but this cannot continue in a policy vacuum. It is important that the future of these herds are secured for both critical mass for the Scottish herd and as grazing tools for important wildlife management.
With a tightening supply of calves, the importance of these herds to the national beef supply is also likely to grow. However, one of the strongest parts of the system - the story of beef raised in High Nature Value (HNV) farmed landscapes and supporting small scale agriculture - does not percolate through to the final consumer.
In places like Skye, where I croft, the way cattle are farmed can often be described as nature positive.
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Most crofters already have a full-time job. If their support is reduced, there is a chance of land abandonment, which would mean no silage made and the ground becoming thatched. If there is no grazing, bracken would dominate, and height variation would disappear. Wildlife likes variation and cattle help to provide that diversity.
If we are in a situation where north west businesses were forced to sell up and no longer keep cattle, that would adversely affect crofters, farmers, and the food supply chain. Not least because, if there are fewer calves on the islands, then farmers on the mainland will have less choice and may have to pay more for them.
Many of these calves could be described as nature positive and it is important that, as an industry that is being challenged to account for our carbon footprints, that we do not fail to capture all the positive impacts our current systems provide.
The buyers and their customers are who can best use this story to bring value to the final consumer. But the question remains - what work needs to be done to tell this story?
janette.sutherland@sac.co.uk
Lynne Carrick
AGRICULTURAL
CONSULTANT
Specialist expertise
• IACS work and grant applications
• Livestock systems and nutrition
• Carbon auditing and mitigation measures
• Nutrient budgets
What was your career journey into this role?
I studied Agriculture at SRUC Ayr in 2015 and graduated with an honours degree. I then started a Graduate position at Galloway & Macleod, an animal feed business, as a Sales Nutritionist. In my role I was able to travel across Dumfries, North and East Ayrshire as well as Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire, during which, I sold a variety of products including feed and fertiliser as well as working on feed formulations and preparing rations for customers.
Why did you come to work at SAC Consulting?
Consultancy is always something I have been interested in. After five and a half years of travelling up and down farm roads hoping to help people, I wanted to move to a job where that was the number one focus, so I joined SAC Consulting in May of 2025. I really enjoy doing work that benefits clients and makes a positive change to their workload.
If you could do anyone else’s job here, who would it be, what is their role and why?
Probably Lorna McPherson, Dairy Consultant. I have always had a keen interest in dairy, and it would be great to have that level of industry knowledge.
What work (in your current role) are you most proud of and why?
As a newbie I am still finding my feet, but I have really been enjoying nutrient budgets. It is a great thing to learn and be good at as it's going to be a requirement for all farms in 2028.
If you had one wish, to be used to better the industry, what would you wish for?
A working crystal ball would be a lovely addition to the office. That way, when we are advising clients on what the future holds, we can give them all the information.
Staff Spotlight Keira Sannachan
AGRICULTURAL CONSULTANT
Specialist expertise
• IACS work and grant applications
• Livestock systems
• Carbon auditing and mitigation measures
• Business planning and budgeting
What was your career journey into this role?
After graduating from SRUC Edinburgh with an honours degree in Agriculture, I spent a year relief milking on a local dairy farm while searching for a full-time industry role. This led me to SRUC’s Crichton Royal Farm, where I worked as a research technician for two years. The position provided invaluable insight into the dairy industry and gave me the opportunity to work on fascinating research projects. However, when a consultancy role opened up nearer home at SAC Consulting’s Lanark office two years ago, applying felt like a natural next step to continue my personal development and push myself further.
Why
did you come to work at SAC Consulting?
SAC Consulting is renowned for its independent, expert advice and respected advisors across the country. I wanted to be part of this forward-thinking team, delivering robust, evidence-based recommendations that can make a real difference to clients.
If you could do anyone else’s job here, who would it be, what is their role and why?
I would be quite interested in taking on a role in the veterinary services team. The veterinary investigation officers do some incredible work in various areas such as pathology and histopathology. The state-of-the-art labs allow for a wide variety of tests to be conducted and there’s often interesting projects investigating disease syndromes which could impact herds or flocks on a wide scale.
The vet services team also manage the premium health schemes for cattle and sheep and can help farmers with dynamic health planning which can make a real difference to the health, welfare, and production efficiency of livestock on farm.
What work (in your current role) are you most proud of and why?
I am most proud of being able to help some of our dairy clients manage the required audits for their milk contract. It can often be a sizeable piece of work and due to the time constraints of running the business, some clients were looking for help with completing the audits, whilst others were looking for help polishing what they already had, being able to take some of the weight off their shoulders can be really quite rewarding! After being asked by a few clients for help it allowed me to bring a small group of farmers together to talk, and work through it together whilst opening an avenue for conversation between them all.
If you had one wish, to be used to better the industry, what would you wish for?
If I could wish for one improvement, it would be for food security to be properly recognised and rewarded in future agricultural support schemes. While environmental priorities such as carbon auditing, biodiversity, and climate change mitigation are essential, the growing population means food security must remain a central pillar of agricultural policy.
