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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Scotland and the UK currently rely on importing approximately 40% of food and drink consumed. However, many of these imported goods are already being produced by local businesses, right here in Scotland.
(Just one example, the image shows the most recent UK import figures for vegetables.)
We have been working to identify opportunities to improve self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on imports of those products which can be produced in Scotland.
Sourcing for Growth
We’ve launched Sourcing for Growth, a matchmaking service to help food and drink businesses seek alternative supplies to boost the local economy, shorten supply chains and reduce environmental impacts by purchasing input and ingredients closer to home.
Find out more/start your journey here.
Food Security
We played a key role in supporting the work of the Scottish Government’s Short-life Food Security and Supply Taskforce in the context of the situation in Ukraine, in providing research and expert input into resilience planning around all critical aspects of the supply chain, including inputs, energy, production, processing, logistics and market access. A Risk Register has been developed by SAOS and we are in the pilot stage of developing a resilience assessment tool for individual supply chains to gauge their strengths, vulnerabilities and options for mitigation measures and support. Similarly, we are building a sector resilience assessment tool which will help to identify emerging issues across all key sectors and inform tactics to mitigate risk where possible.
If you would like to follow up with one of the team and explore ways to improve how your business, supply chain or sector operates, please get in touch.