What is this consultation about?
The Scottish Government has opened a public consultation https://consult.gov.scot/agriculture-and-rural-communities/agricultural-transition-in-scotland/ which will help to inform its decisions about the future of farming policy in Scotland. These decisions will determine how more than £650 million of taxpayers money is spent each year supporting farmers and crofters and for what purposes. Answers to the questions in the consultation could determine whether money is used to encourage more sustainable farming and food production and whether it will help – or hinder – progress in tackling the nature and climate emergency.
Farming is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and is contributing to the loss of nature. The adoption of low carbon and nature positive farming methods can however help address these problems. Making the transition to more sustainable farming and food production requires financial support for farmers from government and clear policies to be in place to drive progress.
Your views on these issues matter and could make a big difference.
Many farmers, and the organisations that represent them, will respond to this consultation. It is important that the Scottish Government hears a breadth of views including from consumers, taxpayers and concerned citizens, and from all those who want farmers and our government to take urgent action for nature and our climate.
Here’s how you can help
We need as many responses to the consultation as possible that emphasise the need for farming policy and payments to support low carbon and nature positive farming and crofting.
Below, we provide suggested answers to the questions asked in the consultation. You can copy and paste these answers into your response or use them to inform your own answers. If you only have limited time, we suggest questions 1, 3, 4 ,8 and 9 and 12 are the most important ones to answer.
The consultation has 21 questions and will take between 30-45 minutes to complete.
Here’s how to respond
Responses to the consultation can be submitted via the Scottish Government’s consultation hub, Citizen Space. Access and respond to this consultation here:https://consult.gov.scot/agriculture-and-rural-communities/agricultural-transition-in-scotland/ and go to the box saying ‘Give us your views’ at the bottom of that webpage then click on ‘Begin Consultation’. This will take you to a Foreword by Cabinet Secretary, Mairi Gougeon – click Continue at the bottom and you will be taken to the question and answer sections where you can respond and add comments. The deadline for responding is 17th November 2021 but please do it as soon as you can.
At the end you will be asked to complete some information about you and whether you are happy for your response to be published or not, with or without your name. Please choose to have it published but tick without name if you don’t want your name to show.
For possible answers to the consultation questions, please download the PDF below.