Farming and food production

A working group consisting of producers, consumer and environmental organisations has been formed to develop future policy on farming and food production.

The group will consider how we use Scotland’s natural assets to produce food and mitigate the impact of climate change. The group will also look at how best to support such activity if Scotland has to leave the EU.

The group will make its recommendations during the course of 2020.

Convening the first meeting of the group while at the Royal Highland Show, Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said:

“People are the food and farming industry’s greatest resource so I am delighted that such an array of talented, experienced and knowledgeable people has agreed to join this group and I look forward to convening its first meeting today. It will provide its views and expertise to support Scottish Government officials in making recommendations on future farming and food production policy built around the six principles set out earlier this year to Parliament.

“Scotland’s landscape and climate provide us with an unrivalled natural larder. We need to develop policies which support both, to ensure that our status as a high quality producer of food is maintained and grows.  

“Crucially, we need an integrated approach that will ensure that Scotland’s land assets play their part in responding to and mitigating the global climate emergency. I look forward to hearing the proposals.”

Background

Membership and remit of the Farming and Food Production Future Policy Group is available on our website. 

The six principles outline to Parliament earlier this year were sustainability, simplicity, innovation, inclusion, productivity and profitability.

The group will focus on the period beyond 2024 and will  test proposals to support farming and food production as a key part of a flourishing rural Scotland, including the impact on climate change, the loss of biodiversity and maintaining the rural population. This will build on the firm foundations set out in our five-year plan and provide stability through any Brexit transition.