DAIRY UK has praised the Scottish Government for leading the way on dairy sector matters in its document to MPs setting out in detail what the industry needs from the next government.

It has listed five priorities – increase research and development in agriculture; stress the importance of dairy in a balanced diet; ensure that competition policy allows UK dairy companies to compete globally; give farmers and processors confidence to invest further in green measures; and urgently tackle bovine TB.

This ‘Dairy Manifesto’, which is the product of widespread consultation among dairy farmers and processors, aims to provide officials and parliamentarians in London with a blueprint for tackling the major challenges in the dairy sector.

Publishing the document, Dairy UK director general Jim Begg said: “The manifesto is all about giving the next government in Westminster the information it needs to make the right decisions for the dairy industry in its first year of power.

“As an industry employing 80,000 people and turning over £8bn per year, dairy is a vital part of the food and wider economy. It is clearly in the government’s interest to ensure that the dairy sector is able to thrive.

“The Scottish Government has already made progress on a number of the key measures we outline, and deserves credit. For example, Edinburgh has already drawn up a coherent strategy for the development of dairy farming and processing, as well as calling for better country of origin labelling and dealing effectively with animal health issues such as bluetongue and foot-and-mouth disease.

“But there is plenty that needs to be done at the UK level, where Scottish support will be vital. If the new government in London followed our proposals, it would give the UK dairy sector much needed confidence to invest in the future and protect our food security.”