It’s a step of the food chain many of us would rather not think about, but it’s about much more than life and death.

As I learn in this episode, abattoirs are a vital link in the food chain, requiring skilled workers and deft navigation of huge amounts legislation to ensure our meat meets with standards. And although we may not like it, we need to pay them more attention because they are disappearing across the UK, with remaining services becoming bigger and more centralised. These larger abattoirs are much less accessible for small to medium producers, making production for direct, local sale a much more challenging prospect.

The closure of all abattoirs in the Borders - the last one closed in 2011 - as elsewhere, is seriously impacting local economies, the future of small and medium producers, the possibility for local food provision, as well as animal welfare.

I speak with Alison and Robin Tuke of Hardiesmill about what they undertook to open the UK’s first on-farm abattoir since BSE. I also chat with Jonny Williams, the Managing Director of Farmstock, about how the closure of our abattoirs has impacted the Scottish Borders most prized food sector, and the challenges and opportunities he sees moving forward. Also included are a few farming voices from a recent conference addressing the challenges and potential of local food in the Borders.

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In this episode:

Hardiesmill - www.hardiesmill.co.uk

Jonny Williams of Farmstock - farmstock.org.uk

Denise Walton of Peelham Farm - PeelhamFarm.co.uk

Lucy Wilson of Wilson’s Farm and Kitchen - wilsonsfarmandkitchen.com

“Growing the Local Food & Drink Economy” was a conference hosted by Propogate, Abundant Borders, SOSE and SSDA.

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The FoodScape Podcast explores how food shapes the lives and land of the Scottish Borders. It also asks the question; what more could food do for us?

From boosting local economy and creating jobs, supporting biodiversity and improving soil, to establishing a place as a destination; what would it look like for our place to thrive, and can food help us get there?

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Produced & Presented by Charlotte Maberly

Music by Iain Fraser from his album Koterana