Views invited on framework bill for farming support

Views have been invited on the Scottish Government’s Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill as it begins its parliamentary journey.

Holyrood’s Rural Affairs & Islands Committee has opened its stage 1 scrutiny of the bill, which represents the Scottish Government’s "vision for agriculture" to transform farming and food production in Scotland and make it a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture.

The bill provides a framework that ministers will use to develop the support that farming and rural communities need in order to adapt to new opportunities and new challenges.

It gives ministers the powers to provide financial support through a four-tier model to farmers, crofters and rural communities to achieve high quality food production, climate mitigation and adaptation, nature restoration, and wider rural development.

The Government believes this approach – a framework bill with the policy details made by regulations at a later date – would give it the flexibility to respond to "future social, economic and environmental changes, challenges and opportunities".

MSPs on the committee undertook pre-legislative scrutiny of future agriculture policy through a programme of evidence sessions, round tables and farm visits. Now they are keen to hear the views of stakeholders and members of the public with an interest in the sector on the specific proposals in the bill.

Committee convener Finlay Carson MSP commented: "This legislation is crucial to support our farming, crofting and rural communities to continue to produce high quality food and meet our biodiversity and climate targets. 

"Although it doesn’t include much policy detail, it will create a framework which will set the overall policy direction and give Scottish ministers the powers to provide financial and other support.

"If Scotland is to achieve its ambition of becoming a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture, it is essential the Scottish Government gets this overall policy direction right. Sharing your views with us now will directly impact our thinking and will help us secure the best route for Scotland’s agricultural sector to flourish for generations to come."

Access the consultation here. The deadline for responses is Friday 24 November.

Following the call for views, the committee plans to take oral evidence from late November through to early February before reporting to the Scottish Parliament with its recommendations in spring 2024.