Climate change dominates during second day of talks
Climate change continued to dominate the agenda on the second day of NFU Scotland’s annual conference, with the announcement of a £40 million “agricultural transformation” programme designed to help farming do its bit to allow Scotland to achieve its target of net zero emissions by 2045.
The Scottish Government-financed scheme, representing new money for the sector, was flagged up at the event by rural economy secretary, Fergus Ewing who said the initiative would help the agricultural industry to undertake a range of potential actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support sustainable farming and land use.
Ewing said that while the details of the scheme were yet to be finalised, it was expected that the scheme would be rolled out this financial year - meaning that it would be in progress by the time Glasgow hosted the COP 26 climate conference.
Stating that there was an overwhelming acceptance and a willingness within the farming industry to address climate change, he said that the fund would help provide the direction and tools for doing the job and were designed to:
● develop pilot schemes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture;
● encourage more tree planting across Scotland including woodland integration and agro-forestry on Scottish farms;
● promote the multiple benefits of good grassland management to more livestock farmers;
● encourage more farmers to invest in renewable energy, including bioenergy, to meet their energy needs;
● support an evidencebased approach to crop production and selection and strategic development of organic farming;
● explore the development of models to demonstrate and promote carbon neutral farms.
He said that while he recognised that the primary function of agriculture was to produce food, every sector needed to work towards the net zero - and while many far-sighted individuals had already been moving in this direction, whole industry buyin was required: “Let me be clear, achieving this will require every one of us to think about what you can do to ensure you play your part in transitioning to a net zero future.”
But despite the push from some sectors of society to reduce cattle and sheep numbers, Ewing said that mixed livestock grazing played an important and sustainable role not only in food production but also in many other areas such as biodiversity and maintaining the scenic beauty of Scotland’s managed countryside - and stated that this must be retained.. Having called for the tools to do the job the previous day, union president, Andrew Mccornick welcomed the recognition that farmers and crofters were part of the solution to climate change and that the country’s responsibilities on this front should not be “offshored” by allowing lower standard imports into the UK.
“NFU Scotland is already engaged and will continue to work very closely with Scottish Government in the design and implementation of new measures that will help our sector enhance its role in Scotland reaching net-zero and will work to ensure that measures are strongly focused on productivity and profitability.”