Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Future agriculture policy in Scotland
Background
With the Scottish Government’s Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill scheduled for introduction in the second half of 2023, the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee agreed to undertake some pre-legislative scrutiny of future agriculture policy. The purpose of this scrutiny was to understand what farmers, crofters and food producers need from future agriculture policy.
The Scottish Government’s proposals centred on replacing the common agricultural policy (CAP) payment scheme. This new agriculture support framework is intended to support farmers and crofters in delivering a number of key outcomes in—
- High quality food production
- Climate change adaptation and mitigation
- Nature protection and restoration
- Improved animal health and welfare
- Wider development of rural communities
The Committee heard the views of farmers, crofters, stakeholder organisations and academics on the proposals through a programme of evidence sessions, roundtables and farm visits over spring and summer 2023.
Further information about the Scottish Government’s proposals for future agriculture policy is set out in this consultation paper.
Further information about the proposed new agriculture support framework is available in this agricultural reform route map.
The Committee held an informal round table discussion with Farming for 1.5 on 14 March 2023.
Read the summary of the meeting (89KB, pdf) posted 30 May 2023
A record of all the committee meetings