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

Developing New Opportunities and Adding Value

SAOS's expertise has, for many years, helped businesses open new routes to market, supporting organisations like Scotland Food & Drink and Scottish Development International at local, regional, national and international levels.

We work with a wide range of partners to identify ways to add more value to products, reduce waste and improve profitability and efficiency through collaboration with supply chain partners. Our current work in this area includes

Local Food

We lead on the Delivering Growth through Wholesale programme. One key focus has been on improving logistics across Scotland. Its aim is to develop a cohesive plan with practical solutions to expand access for local food producers into more mainstream markets.

Agri Export Hub

The Scottish Agri Export Hub was launched in November 2021 to encourage greater collaboration within the potatoes, cereals, and horticulture sector, to help build export capability and access export markets successfully and sustainably.

We work in partnership with NFU Scotland, the lead partner in the project. The focus is on identifying, understanding, and developing new export opportunities, as well as expanding existing export markets for Scotland's primary produce.

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)

Through its Scotland Food & Drink Partnership work, supported by Scottish Government, SAOS has launched a new summary guide for those interested in accessing information and expertise for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) production. The Guide complements the more detailed report prepared for the Highland Good Food Partnership, ‘Controlled Environmental Agriculture Feasibility Study’.

Get in touch if you would like to find out more or have any ideas that you would like to talk through with one of the team.

 

 

Key contacts

Patricia Rojas Bonzi

Patricia Rojas Bonzi

Patricia Rojas Bonzi

Project Manager

07467 082625 | Patricia.Rojas@saos.coop