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About us

Scotland’s experts on farmer co-ops and food industry collaboration, we work with food and farming businesses to make them more profitable, competitive, and sustainable - #workingtogether to shape the future, today.

What we do

All our work helps facilitate farmers and food and drink businesses to work together effectively. Over the years we've expanded and developed subsidiary businesses - getting the right people together and making innovative advancements - to help benefit food, farming and rural Scotland.

Events & Training

Developing staff capability is one of the most effective ways to improve a co-op’s performance. Check out our events and training programme - most of which are open to non co-op members too.

Membership

As a development organisation, owned by our members, we provide a range of specialist services not available elsewhere, to assist them in developing their people and their businesses. Get in touch to find out how we can help you.

What's New

See below for all the latest news, views and updates from us here at SAOS. Find all our latest videos on YouTube at: SAOS - working together in food and farming

Scottish farmers produce quality beef and lamb from the grass and rough grazing which make up around 80% of Scotland’s agricultural land which is not suitable for cereal, fruit or vegetable production. Scotland’s grassland acts as a carbon sink and grazing animals provide habitats for wildlife and help to maintain the landscape.

How do we help?

Many of our workstreams are focused on helping our members and the wider Scottish agricultural community towards a more sustainable future. Our key focus areas - co-operation, supply chains, technology, data, and collaboration - are all integral to smarter, more efficient and sustainable farming.

What are SAOS Members Doing?

Many of SAOS’s member co‑ops are working hard to mitigate their impact on the environment. In a host of different ways they and their members are leading the way for Scottish agriculture, pushing forward to drive positive change and helping position farmers as a key part of the climate change solution.

You can read about some of their actions and impacts in the case studies below.

Our Co-op Members' Climate Change Work

Aberdeen Grain

Aberdeen Grain is a farmer owned, grain co‑op based in Aberdeenshire, drying and storing over 65,000 tonnes of grain each year at their facility in Whiterashes. Aberdeen Grain markets and sells members' barley, Oil Seed Rape, wheat and oats to its wide range of customers, who value the continuity of supply that the co‑op provides.

Aberdeen Grain's Actions

Angus Growers

Angus Growers Ltd is a soft fruit producer organisation based in Arbroath in the heart of the traditional Scottish berry growing area.

The 17 grower members, the majority of these in Angus, Perthshire and Fife, grow a variety of fruits and other crops; The co‑op markets their strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries, specialising in producing fresh fruit for the major supermarkets, shops, restaurants and food and drinks manufacturers.

Angus Growers' Actions

First Milk

First Milk membership stretches from the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland down through England and into Wales.
The co‑op works together with its farmer members to produce the highest quality dairy products, united by a single commitment – to enrich life every day to secure the future.
Collaborative, adaptable, motivated, supportive and down to earth, First Milk has full sight of their supply chain from cow to customer.

First Milk's Actions

Grampian Growers

Grampian Growers is a farmer owned co-operative based on the east coast of Scotland on the outskirts of Montrose. The co-op's core activities are daffodil flower and bulb production and marketing, as well as seed and baby potato production and marketing.

Grampian Growers' Actions

Highland Grain

Owned by its 89 Members, Highland Grain Ltd exists to dry, condition, store and add value to the arable products produced by its Members, mainly malting barley destined for the Scotch Whisky distilling industry.

Highland Grain's Actions

ScotEID

ScotEID and MyHerdStats allow Scottish farmers to make better use of their data in multiple ways. Informed decision making helps farmers improve their sustainability and become more efficient while also reducing their carbon footprint.

ScotEID/MyHerdStats' Actions

Scottish Agronomy

Scottish Agronomy supports its farmers members enabling them to grow their business with the best crop management strategies. Independent, evidence-led advice focuses on optimising inputs, utilising disease resistance and achieving economic returns.

Scottish Agronomy's Actions

Scottish Borders Produce

SBP Ltd is a cross-border co-operative of farmer members in the Scottish Borders, East Lothian and North Northumberland specialising in the environmentally responsible growing and processing of top quality vining peas for the retail frozen market.

Scottish Borders Produce's Actions

Scottish Pig Producers

Scottish Pig Producers is a co-operative that markets pigs for its 75 dedicated farmer members, and forms an essential part of the supply chain to Scotland and Northern Ireland's pig processors and UK retailers. Established in 1979, the group is focused on quality of service to producer & processor, and has a track record of pioneering new product lines working closely with supply chain partners.

Scottish Pig Producers' Actions

Key contacts

Emma Patterson Taylor

Emma Patterson Taylor

Emma Patterson Taylor

Sustainability Manager

07502 339307 | emma@saos.coop