Food & Footprint
Delivering end-to-end sustainability solutions for the journey to net zero.
Research-backed, end-to-end sustainability solutions.
The route to net zero is different for every business, typically requiring action on equipment, processes, decision making, and business culture amongst other things. Even once these are addressed, there might be unavoidable emissions that you can’t manage out and that need to be offset. Alongside these challenges, there are huge opportunities for those willing to commit to the journey, for example efficiencies, new sources of finance, new products and markets and opportunities to differentiate. The route can seem daunting, even impossible – especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who do not have significant in-house expertise and capacity.
Our integrated sustainability offering provides the breadth and depth of consultancy needed, whilst our history and values give us invaluable on-the-ground experience and appreciation of the unique purpose and needs of land-based and food and drink businesses. Our robust and highly responsive technical expertise links the business of food production with environmental objectives. By uniquely drawing on the cutting-edge knowledge, research and technology of the wider SRUC, and combining that with an appreciation of the economic and practical realities of business, we are your full-service sustainability partner for the journey ahead.
Your Food & Footprint journey
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Working with us
We can help clients to quantify and improve the emissions of their food and drink supply chain from field to fork. Our roots are in the land-based, and food and drink sectors.
Environment and sustainability services
Food & enterprise services
Our customer successes
With collaboration at the core, our team works to create value and positive impact for a diverse client base, including SME's, public sector, rural estates and global multinationals. We work across Scotland, the UK and internationally in diverse sectors and business types such as co-operatives, processors, retailers, environmental NGO's or investors.
Scottish Government
"Thanks again for your hard work with conducting such thorough interviews, facilitating the workshops, liaising with teams, and dealing with the numerous comments and requests from us and the pilot regions – then pulling all the info together into the various reports. It was good to work with you.”
Angus Soft Fruits
“The team at SAC Consulting have been really accommodating to tailor the support to our exact needs and create even more value within our emissions calculations with their expertise."
M&S
“The collaboration with SAC Consulting has proved crucial for the success of this project, as we want to ensure we are both facts based, and science led in our decision making.”
WWF
"SAC Consulting brings a uniquely research-driven approach and includes useful technical insight, as well as an important understanding of the Scottish dimension of these issues, which is what gives them an edge on delivery in this project.”
NatureScot
“I think it’s been a brilliant project for NatureScot and SAC Consulting to better understand the work we’re both doing individually and how we can work together to create real impact. We collaborated really well together and brought different specialisms, expertise, and experience."
Diageo
"Yields and profitable returns are important, as is carbon reduction in the bigger sustainability picture, but for Diageo it’s also about nurturing ecosystems, fostering resilience, and leaving a legacy of sustainability for generations to come.”
Our work
From industry publication to customer case studies and outputs from some of our special projects, guidance documents and cutting-edge research, dive into the detail and see our work for yourself.
Food & Footprint in SRUC news:
Ideas are easy – making them work is what counts
Dragon’s Den is a pop culture cauldron full of new ideas. We watch with bated breath as the intrepid entrepreneurs face the formidable Peter Jones and the team to pitch their business plans.
Food and drink entrepreneurs can THRIVE with programme insight
Aimed at students, graduates, and early-stage entrepreneurs, THRIVE offers the skills vital for concept development and business growth, as well as providing insight focused on legislation, marketing, and manufacturing.
New project to map landowners in Scotland
With concentration of landownership in Scotland the highest in Europe, new research aims to understand whether recent land transactions are leading to - and fuelled by - land use change, such as towards achieving net zero.
Bats need dark nights to be farm heroes
A new publication has highlighted the benefits of bats to farming landscapes and what actions farmers can take to support this protected species on their farms.
Food Biodiversity: Reflecting on our past to reshape our future. Lessons from the world.
The lack of food source diversity poses a risk to society, health, and nature as climate change, social and economic changes, and natural disasters impact us globally. Farmers and ecosystems are also at risk, threatening the crucial food biodiversity and security we rely on.
New hedgerow and grassland management guides for farmers
New videos and practical guides have been created for farmers to help wildlife, such as pollinating insects, thrive on farms.
Want to know more?
Working with you
Whether you are a crofter, a farmer, a rural estate or landmanager or a business looking for consultancy support, we have trusted experts to help you move your business forward.
Our expert teams
Our diverse teams of advisors and specialists cover a lot of ground. Explore our teams to see what skills, support, and specialist solutions we may be able to offer you and your business.
What are special projects?
Explore our unique project work, from client programme delivery or collaborative partnerships to ground-breaking research and technical projects for funders.