On Friday 4th November it will be my privilege to talk to the RASC Conference 2016 delegation about the role of Societies across the Commonwealth, such as the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), in creating and awareness and support for farming. I’d like to take this opportunity to give a quick snapshot of what I will be talking about
As with most advanced agricultural industries, in Scotland the number of people working on the land as fallen dramatically in the past 80 years. This coupled with increased productivity and a secure supply chain, which is to be welcomed, has resulted in something of a disconnect between producer and consumer, with the latter becoming less aware of the cost of getting food to their plate.
On Friday 4th November it will be my privilege to talk to the RASC Conference 2016 delegation about the role of Societies across the Commonwealth, such as the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), in creating and awareness and support for farming. I’d like to take this opportunity to give a quick snapshot of what I will be talking about
As with most advanced agricultural industries, in Scotland the number of people working on the land as fallen dramatically in the past 80 years. This coupled with increased productivity and a secure supply chain, which is to be welcomed, has resulted in something of a disconnect between producer and consumer, with the latter becoming less aware of the cost of getting food to their plate.
In Scotland, the contribution of Societies such as RHASS and the Border Union Agricultural Society (BUAS), and groups such as Scottish Association of Young Farmers (SAYFC), is invaluable in addressing the rift between rural and urban Scotland. Each year RHASS’ education charity, the Royal Highland Education Trust teaches thousands of children each year about where their food comes from (our chief exec Alan Laidlaw will be discussing this in detail during his presentation) and its flagship event, the Royal Highland Show, bridges the rural and urban divide by bringing over 180,000 consumers and producers together to celebrate food, farming and rural life.
However, there is still much to be done with regards to our nation’s diet, our food literacy and in supporting our rural communities and our primary producers; I look forward to discussing this in more detail, and hearing what our peers thoughts from across the Commonwealth thoughts are on the subject, when my colleagues from RHASS and I are in Singapore next week.
