Last week, the team were delighted to visit Jane Cooper at Orkney Boreray for the much-anticipated arrival of the Tiny Trailer Abattoir in Orkney.
The mobile sheep abattoir has made the 700-mile journey from Dorset to Orkney, offering an innovative response to one of the challenges facing our islands’ local food system.
Following the closure of Orkney’s only abattoir, local farmers have faced long and costly journeys to access slaughter facilities. Once the necessary approvals are secured, the Tiny Trailer Abattoir could offer a more local solution, helping to strengthen the resilience of Orkney’s food system while reducing the need to transport animals long distances and the associated carbon emissions.
ICNZ has part-funded the project and will continue to support its development by collecting data to help understand its impact, including the potential carbon savings from reduced travel, and the lessons that could be shared with other remote and island communities.
It’s a brilliant example of island innovation in action, finding a practical, locally focused response to a very real challenge.