The importance of red meat production to both the national economy of Scotland and the countrys rural areas has been highlighted in a new independent report commissioned by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).

The report, entitled An Assessment of the Economic Contribution of Scotlands Red Meat Supply Chain, reveals that the red meat supply chain in Scotland contributes around £2.4 billion to total output. This equates to a £733 million contribution to Scotlands Gross Domestic Product and provides employment totalling 33,000 jobs.

The report also lays out the Scottish red meat industrys considerable importance in terms of employment in rural areas through jobs created by farming and meat processing.

The publication, compiled by Andrew Moxey of Pareto Consulting, accounts for production as far along the red meat chain as abattoirs and cutting plants. The figures would be significantly higher if the economic impact further downstream, including wholesalers and multiple and independent retailers plus food outlets, were also included.

"As well as clearly laying out the way in which red meat production underpins Scotlands agricultural output, the report also highlights the role it plays in social sustainability and in the maintenance of Scotlands landscape," says Iain Macdonald, senior economics analyst at QMS.

"The main routes identified for achieving this include the retention of more animals in Scotland and the wider adoption of best practice at farm level. The other key opportunities identified for driving growth in our industry are greater collaboration and information sharing across the supply chain," he concludes.