Looking on plus side of Brexit, Moody seeking a realignment

Despite all the sound and fury associated with the political battle over Brexit, the UK’S departure from Europe offers the country an opportunity to realign its agricultural policy in a way which will allow it to regain productivity levels lost to other nations in recent years.

That was the message given by legislative expert and industry commentator Jeremy Moody of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers yesterday.

Speaking to land agents in Scotland he said that unless the country either remained or rejoined the EU, there was an opportunity to improve on the current policies and strategies.

“After all no one outside the common agricultural policy volunteers to join it, he said.

“And if we don’t use this moment to prompt change what will it take?”

He said that agriculture was facing major chang- es irrespective of Brexit – and that the industry was on the edge of an unfolding revolution in genetics and robotics which would bring about a transformation in the way the industry operated.

“While we all know that the European Union has been extremely cautious in its approach, operating outside these strictures will give us the opportunity to be bolder and to take the risks which many of our competitors on the world stage are already taking.”

But Moody warned that while Scotland had a “pretty clear run” to re-write all the strands of its agricultural policy, the proposed “slow and steady” approach to policy change could see the country face the double whammy of support changes and trade deal changes at the same time.

“But, if the support changes came through earlier, the industry would be fitter and better placed to face up to the challenges of new trading conditions.”