A world leader

Scotland’s appointment to a leading role in the global agritourism sector is testament to the hard work and dedication of those industry leaders and innovators who saw the growth potential in agritourism and continue to move it forward.

We should also recognise the role that the Scottish Government has played in developing agritourism and bringing a diverse range of organisations round the table and formalising a national strategy to develop it.

The fact that other countries are looking at the Scottish strategy and our definition of agritourism, with a view to developing their own, is an acknowledgement of how far ahead of the curve Scotland is in this fast-developing area.

If Caroline Millar and her team succeed in their aim of bringing the Global Agritourism Network conference to Scotland, it could bring representatives from almost every continent to Scotland to see what we have to offer. It would be a real feather in the cap of everyone involved and we wish them all the best in their endeavours.

While other nations and continents might look at what we are doing here, there is also a major opportunity for us to learn from others – especially the role that local and national governments play in supporting the industry. With empirical data to demonstrate what works, the sector will be ideally placed to nudge the political classes in the right direction.

Scottish produce is globally renowned and this reputation for delivering consistently high-quality produce has been hard won by producers. With a growing interest from the public in how their food is produced, Scotland really is ideally placed to further develop the sector and support farmers who want to diversify into this area.

But it doesn’t take much to put the brakes on growth and we may have narrowly, albeit temporarily, avoided that this week.

When First Minister Humza Yousaf stood up to outline the direction of policy travel for the next three years until the Holyrood election, there was little in the way of surprises on offer – no political rabbits were pulled out of the hat. It was mostly confirming a raft of previous announcements but giving a time limit of 2026.

Two announcements, however, were received with a sigh of relief.

The first was the proposed ban on alcohol advertising, which is going back to the drawing board. For producers of premium drink brands, for example, island distilleries, any ban could severely hamper sales, with all the knock-on effects this would bring along the supply chain.

Across Scotland, exceptional drinks, steeped in history, are produced and suggesting that they should not be advertised is sheer folly.

The second is yet another delay in introducing the Deposit Return Scheme, a project that has been so badly handled that it has deserved the sustained criticism it has received. Many would not argue with the principle of DRS, but it is difficult to support in its current form, especially amid concerns that rural communities and businesses could be disproportionately affected.

The message is clear, government must support producers and innovators, not continually throw legislative hammers in the works.