Around 300 delegates from across the supply chain gathered at Murrayfield Stadium for the Future Thinking on Red Meat Conference 2026, hosted by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), where speakers warned that Scotland’s red meat sector must address falling livestock numbers while capitalising on strong demand at home and overseas.
The conference held on March 10 brought together farmers, processors, auctioneers, retailers and policymakers to discuss the future of the industry , with a programme focused on global supply challenges, market opportunities and building confidence across the sector.
Opening the event, QMS chair Kate Rowell said the industry had demonstrated significant resilience since the last conference in 2020, navigating what she described as a series of ‘once-in-a-generation’ events.
These included the impacts of Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, pressures with inflation and major changes in agricultural policy.
Despite these challenges, she said the sector had emerged with its reputation and value increasingly recognised.
However, Ms Rowell warned the industry remained ‘commercially strong but structurally exposed’, highlighting declining livestock numbers, tight margins and processing capacity running below potential.
She stressed that collaboration across the supply chain would be essential to address these challenges and pointed to joint work through the Scottish Red Meat Resilience Group and the Meating Our Potential initiative as examples of the sector working together.
She said: "There is huge opportunity for the red meat sector in Scotland if we continue to collaborate and focus on the strengths of our industry."
Ms Rowell added that domestic demand for Scotch beef , lamb and pork remained strong while exports reached a record £164 million in 2025, demonstrating the global appetite for Scotland’s products.
Providing an international perspective Phil Hadley, secretary general of the International Meat Secretariat told attendees the global red meat sector is facing tightening livestock supplies alongside rising demand for animal protein.
He said forecasts suggest global production will need to increase by around 19m tonnes by 2030 to meet consumption trends.
However, cattle numbers are declining in several major producing regions including North America, the European Union and Australia, while disease outbreaks, geopolitical tensions and trade disputes are adding further uncertainty.
Hadley noted that increased carcass weights have helped maintain production levels in some countries, meaning more beef is being produced from fewer animals.
He also highlighted shifting trade dynamics, with Brazil overtaking the United States as the world’s largest beef producer and exporter.
Livestock diseases, including African swine fever and Foot-and-mouth disease were also contributing to volatility in global markets.
Despite these challenges Hadley said demand for red meat remains strong.
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“Consumers are paying more for protein and resistance to those higher prices has been less than many expected,” he commented.
For Scotland, he added that strong brand recognition and a focus on premium products positioned the sector well to take advantage of export opportunities, particularly within European markets.
Following the global outlook, chief executive of QMS Sarah Millar,, told delegates the industry must tackle declining livestock numbers if Scotland is to meet future demand.
She highlighted the work of the Meating Our Potential campaign which aims to stabilise and grow Scotland’s livestock base.
Ms Millar said Scotland’s beef herd has fallen by more than 52,000 head over the past 15 years, reflecting a wider trend across the UK where cattle numbers have declined by around 12.7%.
She said: “As an island nation, already a net importer of beef needed to feed our population. This is not just an economic challenge - it is a genuine issue of national food security.”
Research with farmers who had reduced or exited cattle production identified long-term profitability pressures, labour shortages and succession challenges as key drivers behind declining herd numbers.
She added: "If we do nothing, modelling shows Scotland’s beef production could fall by a further 8% by 2030."
Ms Millar highlighted the economic opportunity from reversing that trend with modelling suggesting an additional £400m of output and £100m in gross value added could be generated for Scotland’s economy.
She said the Meating our Potential campaign had already reached more than three million people through media engagement and political outreach and that there were early signs of progress, including a slowdown in the decline of the breeding herd and fewer store cattle leaving Scotland for finishing elsewhere.
“We’re starting to see some green shoots of optimism,” she said.
During her keynote address, Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Mairi Gougeon, confirmed that the introduction of bovine electronic identification (EID) in Scotland would now be delayed until January 2028.
The change represents a shift from previous timelines which had indicated the technology would be introduced earlier. Ms Gougeon said progress had slowed following the EU–UK sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) reset but stressed the Scottish Government remained committed to delivering the system.
“On bovine EID, our commitment to the delivery of UHF in Scotland remains steadfast,” she said.
“UHF is the technology of the future for livestock identification, and I recognise the need to get it done. It will offer significant health and safety, traceability and management advantages to all.”
She added that EID would play an important role in improving herd efficiency and productivity, as well as supporting Scotland’s environmental ambitions.
Ms Gougeon also repeated the Scottish Government’s support for the livestock sector more broadly, highlighting that the industry supports around 40,000 jobs and contributes £3.5 billion to the economy.
Responding to ongoing concerns about the future of livestock production, she made clear the government had no plans to reduce herd numbers.
“As a listening government we have heard your concerns loud and clear,” she said. “We have no policy to reduce livestock numbers in Scotland, and there will be no policy to reduce livestock numbers.”
She also announced the launch of a new £9m Food and Drink Processing Scheme, administered by Scotland Food & Drink, offering match-funded grants of up to £400,000 to support investment in processing capacity and supply chain efficiency.
The Cabinet Secretary confirmed Scotland would continue to provide what she described as the most generous package of direct support in the UK including more than £100m in funding for livestock producers through schemes such as the Voluntary Coupled Support Scheme and the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme.
A panel discussion featuring members of the Scottish Red Meat Resilience Group highlighted the importance of profitability, confidence and collaboration if livestock numbers are to recover.
Representatives from across the supply chain warned that declining critical mass could threaten processing capacity and long-term industry viability.
NBA chairman Neil Shand said the campaign was fundamentally about the survival of the sector.
“The whole line here is based production. Without base production none of us survive,” he said.
NSA Scotland chairman Peter Myles pointed to forecasts suggesting a potential 37,000 tonne shortfall in sheep meat by 2030, while pig sector representative Andy McGowan warned that falling numbers could threaten processing infrastructure.
NFU Scotland vice-president and farmer Robert Neill said long-term profitability would be essential to encourage the next generation into the sector.
He said: “We need profitability to reinvest in infrastructure and the next generation.”
Speakers also emphasised the need to better communicate the environmental benefits of livestock farming and ensure clear food labelling so consumers can identify Scottish produce.
Delegates later heard further analysis on the state of the red meat market, retail trends and future opportunities for the Scotch brand, alongside discussions on collaboration, reputation and engaging the next generation of farmers and industry professionals.
The conference concluded with closing remarks from Ms Rowell, who urged the sector to continue working together to build a confident and sustainable future for Scotland’s red meat industry.
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