Clarity on public support for farming critical to its future success

Press Release

Clear communication with farming businesses about the development of agricultural policy in Scotland is crucial for its future success, Scottish Land & Estates has said today.

The rural business organisation was speaking as the Scottish Parliament held a debate on delivering the Scottish Government’s Vision for Agriculture through the Agricultural Reform Route Map.

The route map, which was published last month, sets out the timescales for information, support and implementation to help farmers, crofters and landowners plan and prepare for the changes to the agricultural support framework which will be introduced from 2025.

SLE has given a cautious welcome to the route map but noted that many within the sector were reticent to make further positive changes to their business until the government provided much needed clarity on public support mechanisms post-2025.

Eleanor Kay, Senior Policy Adviser (Agriculture & Climate Change) at Scottish Land & Estates, said:

“Time is ticking until a new public support system for agriculture and land management is introduced and whilst the publication of the route map was a welcome staging post, farming businesses need the Scottish Government to improve communication and engagement so they can adequately prepare for the rules and regulations that will be introduced.

“If government provides clear signals on its long-term thinking, with aligned support packages, it will enable land managers to confidently make changes to their business, without the fear of making a wrong choice now which will impact their business in the long-term. Almost every aspect of agriculture and land management has regulation associated with it.

“We are fully supportive of initiatives to enhance biodiversity and natural capital as part of public support schemes, for example. However, many farmers and land managers who have already taken the initiative in measuring their biodiversity and natural capital baseline are now reticent about making any improvements until it becomes clear what is required of them. The Scottish Government must address this as a matter of urgency to encourage this valuable, proactive work by land managers.”

SLE also reiterated its call for greater transparency from the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board (ARIOB) and strongly encouraged the Scottish Government to engage with other groups, including the long-established Agriculture and Rural Development Group (ARD) and the newly formed Food and Agricultural Stakeholders’ Taskforce (FAST), which was formed in part due to frustration at the lack of wider engagement with the industry.

In a separate debate held at Holyrood this week, on the Australia and New Zealand Trade Bill, SLE reiterated that proper scrutiny of future trade deals was required to ensure the sector was not undermined bit-by-bit in negotiations. SLE noted that Scotland was well placed to rise to the challenge of competition from abroad.

Ms Kay said: “Scottish farming should not fear competing internationally as we have some of the highest levels of environmental and production standards in the world and our politicians need to recognise the value of guaranteeing these values.

"We remain concerned that future trade deals will seek to undermine UK food production and bit by bit, the cumulative impact of all trade agreements will be seismic. Future trade negotiations must adequately consider the importance of UK food security and domestic production capacity.

“There also remains a low level of parliamentary scrutiny of trade deals and we urge the UK Government to allow parliamentarians sufficient scrutiny of future deals. A timetable and more transparent process should be adopted, as happens in other countries and trading blocs, that allows greater scrutiny and discussion with sectors, particularly vulnerable sectors, and devolved administrations over realistic timescales.

“We would also strongly encourage the Scottish Government to ensure that in delivering its Vision for Agriculture there is a focus on the delivery of resilient farming businesses able to capitalise on global market opportunities. Scottish farm businesses are ready to work with government in improving their productivity and their competitiveness, to compete against farmers across the world as we liberalise trade and take advantage of the export opportunities these deals provide.”