Age: 24
24-year-old Calum Johnston is a Food and Drink Consultant with SAC Consulting and also works with Connect Local and the Farm Advisory Service to encourage entrepreneurialism within food and drink.
Speaking about his journey into the industry, Calum explains, “I have always had an interest in food production, having grown up on my family farm. At school, my best subject was Business Management and the opportunity to study Rural Business Management (Agri-Food) at SRUC meant I could combine my interest in agriculture, food and drink and business management.
“After graduating, I worked for two years as a junior buyer for a potato packer, buying potatoes for UK supermarket retailers before joining the SAC Consulting Food and Drink team in April 2018. I have a particular interest in the primary agriculture, added value food production and farm retail sector and I also support on-farm and rural business diversification, as I have experience of running a diversified farming enterprise near Perth.”
Outside of food and drink, Calum is a semi-professional musician and plays the fiddle for ceilidh bands across Scotland, supporting the development of music and culture across Scotland. He also represented Scotland at squash, internationally and at home, for six years and is now a qualified squash and fitness coach, working with a network of coaches, physios, and health professionals in Sport Scotland.
Coming from an agricultural farm-based background, Calum believes that because of the ageing population of farmers, land owners and rural business managers, young aspirational people will be able to drive the industry forward with new innovative ideas and processes.
“There are loads of opportunities for young people in the food and drink sector and a huge potential to make your mark, pursue something you are passionate about, or indeed explore something new and exciting. There is never a dull moment in the food and drink scene!”
Calum’s #ScotFoodGoals is to see Scotland continue to be world renowned as being a fantastic natural larder with strong connections between food and drink, our landscape, heritage and tradition. He would like to see new innovative ideas, businesses and processes develop to promote Scotland’s food and drink at home and on a global stage.
From a personal point of view, Calum would love to combine his interest in music with food and drink to support and develop Food and Drink Music festivals in Scotland and overseas.
To find out more about the services Connect Local offer, visit www.connectlocal.scot
