The quality assurance body for grain grown in Scotland, Scottish Quality Crops (SQC), has launched a new website as part of its ongoing commitment to growers and the industry to improving communications and transparency.
SQC was originally formed by a group of cereal growers in the 1990s in response to a new Food Safety Act and increasing interest from consumers in food standards and traceability.
“These growers recognised the need for an assurance scheme that would give confidence to buyers worldwide and ensure Scottish growers had a competitive edge to access a wide range of commodity markets,” explains Teresa Dougall, Managing Director of SQC. “Thirty plus years later, we are still working with growers and the length of the supply chain with the same mission. We are excited to launch our new website to reflect what the organisation is today and to keep growers and stakeholders informed and updated with SQC and industry developments.”
SQC is run by a cooperative board of eight organisations across the supply chain, including maltsters, millers, distillers and agronomists. It is always chaired by a grower. The main objective is to ensure that the crop quality assurance scheme demonstrates safe, traceable and environmentally responsible production of arable crops within Scotland and through this to give growers access to a wide range of global markets. It also provides a collective voice for growers’ interests at industry level to help influence emerging policy and legislation to maximise opportunities and minimise risks for SQC growers’ businesses.
SQC is currently undertaking a full review of its quality assurance standards, which are independently certified on farm by Food Integrity Assurance (FIA), to ensure they meet market requirements and to avoid duplication within the standards or, for example, with policy obligations.
“Since the start of the year we’ve had really good meetings with stakeholders across the sector, from the British Beer and Pub Association to the Scotch Whisky Association, UKAS (the United Kingdom Accreditation Service) and the NFUS (National Farmers Union Scotland), and consultation is now underway with growers,” says Teresa. “This is a really important time for everyone with a stake in Scotland’s crop supply chain to have their say and to ensure we have a quality assurance scheme that is fit for purpose and benefits businesses at every stage to reach their market.”
Growers will have received an email about the consultation last week. The new SQC website is now live and includes information about the cooperative organisation as well as easy-to-navigate downloadable documents for growers that they need for audits and news bulletins. www.sqcrops.co.uk