CROFTERS and farmers are not feeling the success of Scotland’s food and drink industry, despite its £421 million growth last year to a record £5.5 billion, the National Union of Farmers in Scotland (NFUS) has claimed.
Launching its new Scotland Food and Drink strategy to 2030, the Scottish Government announced food exports had grown by 22 per cent to £1.5 billion, with the fish and seafood category recording the largest overall increase of £156 million (up 26 per cent). Exports to EU countries were worth £2.3 billion overall, up £133 million last year, while Scotch whisky exports grew by £153 million (up four per cent) to more than £4 billion in 2016.
James Withers, chief executive of Scotland Food and Drink, said: ‘This industry is Scotland’s fastest growing major sector.