Question reference: S5W-29567
- Asked by: Peter Chapman, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 2 June 2020 Registered interest
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Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 12 June 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the benefits of tackling endemic diseases on farms, and whether this contributes to meeting environmental targets, quality of food produced and food security.
Answer
Scottish Government has supported two formal assessments of the impact of livestock disease on productivity and greenhouse gas emissions. One study was conducted by ADAS and a second by the SG funded Centre of Expertise on Climate Change, the reports are publicly available.
The Scottish Government has a history of supporting control schemes for endemic diseases. For example using CAP funding to support animal health planning and options for disease control. We are also at the forefront of efforts to control bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) in the UK by supporting the industry through development of the ScotEID database and delivery of BVD legislation.
Underpinning these activities is Scottish Government’s long standing record of funding research and development programmes on livestock diseases at the Moredun Research Institute and Scotland’s Rural College. Both are internationally renowned and aimed at delivery of new disease control tools for livestock diseases such as vaccines and diagnostic methods. The rationale for support of this research includes minimising environmental impact through improved animal health, improving product quality and ensuring food security.