Clear vision for Scottish agriculture crucial to unlocking potential and innovation in rural Scotland

Press Release

Achieving certainty about the direction of Scottish agriculture policy is critical to fostering innovation and supporting a new generation in farming, Scottish Land & Estates said today.

The rural business organisation was speaking as the Royal Highland Show began at Ingliston and said that opportunities for progress were being stifled by the dearth of detail regarding what will replace the CAP post-2025.

SLE said that estates and landowners were eager to work in partnership with other businesses and tenants but that uncertainty over farming policy – plus the spectre of unintended consequences from prospective legislation rooted in ideology – had left many within rural Scotland in limbo.

It urged the Scottish Government to make the forthcoming Agriculture Bill one that unlocked opportunities for future generations - and appealed for a clear strategic vision for Scottish food production and land management for decades to come.

Dee Ward, chairman of Scottish Land & Estates said:

“In the absence of a well-defined plan for Scottish farming and future support, the sector is grappling with uncertainty, unable to make fully informed decisions that would drive sustainable growth for the benefit of Scotland’s food production and our rural economies.

“This is particularly acute for parties such as new entrants or existing businesses who wish to expand but have no clarity about what is coming even two or five years down the road.

“There is a hesitancy within the agricultural sector caused by the lack of certainty and in many cases, it is hindering the ability to adapt, innovate, and embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. The Scottish Government has recently produced a roadmap but there is scant detail on what basis future support payments will be made and crucially, the quantum that will be available.

“Some of the land reform proposals being suggested such as limiting ownership of landholdings, including family farms, are irrational and would be damaging for farming, forestry and land management, limiting our ability to deliver for people, economy, climate and nature. What we desperately need instead is an Agriculture Bill that delivers the practical framework to encourage new opportunities for all and through which we can advance world-class Scottish produce.”

Scottish Land & Estates said estates were ready to continue playing a key role in nurturing an agricultural sector that delivered success for everyone.  

SLE pointed to the recent Wellbeing Economy research, published by BiGGAR Economics, which found that estates were contributing towards 7 of the 11 national outcomes set by the Scottish Government to measure progress towards a wellbeing economy.

Mr Ward continued: “We know that estates are eager to work in partnership with tenants and other local businesses and there are many great examples where this is already happening. Land has recently been let to new entrants at Mount Stuart Trust on Bute and we’ve seen some great alliances such as the flexible business hub leased to start-ups at Rosemains Steading on Preston Hall Estate near Edinburgh.

“The BiGGAR Economics research described estates as ‘engines of rural growth’ and ‘anchors for thriving communities’, with around 4,700 agricultural tenants and leasing land to around 14,000 crofters and farmers. There continues to be some excellent, flexible partnerships formed for farming businesses but there could undoubtedly be more if new entrants and landowners knew where they stood going forward and were then able to plan how they wanted to invest for the future.

“In our #Route2050 paper launched at the Royal Highland Show last year, we set out our hope that the work of farmer-led groups could be built on to achieve policy objectives around emissions reduction, animal health, increasing productivity, improving efficiencies, the use of technology, organic conversion, and support for new entrants, including women in agriculture.

“We still remain hopeful that this will be delivered but we need that clear strategic vision from government – and we need it soon.”