Farmer-led groups to tackle climate change

A second farmer-led group to provide information, advice and proposals to cut emissions and tackle climate change is being established. The Arable Sector Climate group will be chaired by Andrew Moir, former chair of AgriScot.

This builds on the work of the Suckler Beef Climate Group, the first farmer-led group, which was chaired by Jim Walker CBE and assisted by Claire Simonetta. The group published its recommendations in October.

Action to take forward the recommendations from the Suckler Beef Climate Group report has also been announced. A Programme Board is being set up, co-chaired by the Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing and Jim Walker CBE with the first meeting on 26 November. Membership of the group will include industry representatives as well as representatives from Nature Scot, SRUC, and QMS. 

Mr Ewing said:

“In this year’s Programme for Government, we committed to establishing these farmer-led groups to consider ways to tackle climate change, cut emissions and make key sectors in Scottish farming more sustainable. It’s clear that these groups are going to help government change farming and food production for the better. We now need to drive forward this work at pace.

“I am therefore delighted to be able to announce that Andrew Moir has agreed to chair the Arable Sector Climate Group building on the work of the Suckler Beef  Group. His Group will be asked to identify measures which support the arable and cropping sectors to contribute to climate change targets. Andrew brings huge experience and knowledge to the role. He will relish the opportunity to work with colleagues in identifying practical solutions to achieve these very important goals. I look forward to seeing their outputs in due course.”

“We’ve already seen a hugely positive response to the Suckler Beef Group report. Again, I want to thank Jim, Claire and all the members of the Suckler Beef Climate Group for their work on this. I look forward to getting on with the task of turning recommendations and ideas into actions through the newly established programme board. This is a very much an innovative group of people with a vast amount of experience between them and I can’t wait to see what we can collectively achieve. We know we have a big challenge ahead of us and very stretching targets to meet to cut emissions but I am determined that agriculture will play its part and move forward to a more sustainable future.”

Background

Suckler Beef Climate Group final report

Members of the programme board will include Claire Simonetta and Pat Lambert from the farming sector, as well as NFUS chief executive Scott Walker, Andy McGowan from the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers and Neil Wilson from the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IASS), Tim Bailey of SAOS and Bob Yuill from ScotEID.