What is SQC?
SQC is a voluntary quality assurance scheme for crop growers in Scotland. It has over 3,000 members, representing 90% of crops grown in Scotland, and is run by a co-operative board.
Grain grown in Scotland is bought globally and in the UK for distilling, brewing, milling and biofuels.
SQC was first set up in response to a need to demonstrate food safety and good practice in the consumer supply chain.
Today, SQC Assurance provides buyers across the world with traceability and assurance that the grain they are buying has been produced to recognised standards of quality production and food safety.
SQC owns the assurance scheme and sets the standards. To ensure the integrity of the scheme, these standards are independently certified on farm by certification body Food Integrity Assurance (FIA).
SQC sets the standards in consultation with industry to meet the basic requirements for the majority of markets in the UK and globally.
This ensures assured growers have access to a wide range of markets with SQC Assurance. Recognised by the buyers across the supply chain including maltsters, distillers, millers, biofuels and retailers, SQC Assurance reduces the need for each of these customers to carry out its own farm audit. Find out more about how SQC sets the standards.
SQC is run on a very lean model. It has one part-time member of staff, the Managing Director, supported by a cooperative board of expertise from across the sector.
The collective insight allows SQC to be at the forefront of market demand and change and ensures that the standards remain relevant to the sector’s needs.
The cooperative board of representatives from across the supply chain is always chaired by a grower.
SQC takes a whole industry approach with growers at its core.
