The Queen's Birthday Honours list has been released, recognising more than 1,000 people for commitment to public service.
In the farming sector, main recipients include prominent Scottish farmer and agricultural politician John Cameron, farm animal welfare Professor Laura Green and Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) chairman Jim McClaren have received honours.
Fife farmer James Cameron is a former President of NFU Scotland. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Society, and was awarded a CBE for his work in Scottish farming.
QMS Chairman Jim McLaren has been awarded an MBE. Mr McLaren, who farms in Perthshire, has been chairman of QMS since 2011, after serving as President of NFU Scotland from 2007 to 2011.
He is a director of NFU Mutual and a director of Angus Cereals. He has also served on the board of SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College) and is a trustee of The Cameron Trust.
Mr McLaren said he was surprised and delighted to have received the award.
“It has been a huge privilege for me to have worked in, and for, the Scottish agricultural industry in the various roles I have undertaken to date,” said Mr McLaren.
'Deeply honoured'
Professor Laura Green, currently Head of the School of Life Sciences at the University of Warwick, has been appointed an OBE for her services to the health and welfare of farmed livestock.
Professor Green’s research motivation is to improve the health and welfare of farm animals. She has researched into a number of diseases and disorders in sheep, cattle, pigs and hens.
Her most notable research has been 17 years studying lameness in sheep with scientists from a wide range of disciplines.
She has played a key role in translating research results into practice and the level of lameness in sheep in England has halved over 10 years, saving 1 million sheep per year from becoming lame.
Professor Green said: “I am deeply honoured to receive this award. It has been my life’s ambition to improve the health and welfare of farm animals.
“It has been a privilege and a pleasure to have worked with so many excellent policy makers, scientists, vets and farmers to produce evidence that has improved the quality of life of farm animals.”
Other recipients include William Campbell, who has been awarded an OBE for services to agriculture, and Professor Christopher Elliott, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast who has been awarded an OBE for services to the agri-food supply chain.
