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A vision for Scottish agriculture
06/01/2009
A vision for Scottish agriculture which will see direct financial support for farmers continue in the years ahead provided they fulfil contracts with the public to deliver outcomes for food and the environment was outlined today by Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs.
The first Scottish Minister to address the prestigious Oxford Farming Conference since devolution, Mr Lochhead claimed that growing food is the primary purpose of Scottish agriculture. He highlighted the differences between the Scottish vision for agriculture and the UK's, focusing on the issues of food security and the economic, social and environmental benefits of farming.
Mr Lochhead also reflected on the the need for more powers for the Scottish Parliament to help it deliver for farmers and crofters claiming that too many decisions taken in DEFRA still had an impact on Scotland.
Richard Lochhead said:
"Farmers gather in Oxford against a backdrop of economic uncertainty but I believe that the Scottish Government's vision for agriculture combined with the industry's reputation and skills provides hope and optimism for the industry.
"Scotland has attached great importance to agriculture. My vision for Scotland is to have agri-food and land-based industries which produce for the market, are recognised for the economic, social and environmental benefits derived from them, and which are appropriately regulated.
"What I would like to see for the future is, effectively, a new contract between our society and farmers to deliver clear outcomes in the interests of Scotland. A contract that recognises the fundamental role of farmers and land managers in managing and utilising Scotland's biggest asset in the public interest, then addresses specific issues through more targeted measures.
"Our policy tools need to ensure that farmers will only get the payment if they actively carry out the practices that deliver economic, social and environmental benefits.
"The agri-food sector is strategically important to Scotland and farming continues to be a mainstay of the rural economy.
"The primary purpose of Scottish agriculture should always be food production. Maintaining a national capacity to produce food is crucial for Scotland's future. That requires an infrastructure and workforce with the necessary skills. Given the national importance of agriculture, public support for farming is wholly justified and will be essential in the years ahead especially given the unique challenges faced by Scottish farmers.
"The Treasury-driven DEFRA vision for agriculture that calls for a quick end to subsidies and that UK Ministers are attempting to sell to the EU is not Scotland's vision as it ignores Scotland's unique circumstances.
"2009 will be a pivotal year for our industry. We will be taking decisions on how to implement the Common Agriculture Policy Health Check and we will be deciding on the shape of our Less Favoured Area support from 2010 onwards.
"We are also reviewing the Scotland Rural Development Programme to see whether it is properly equipped to deal with the challenges of the economic downturn.
"Putting together clear, successful policies for the future will need genuine engagement, by governments and stakeholders.
"Food is now higher on Scotland's agenda that ever before and our farmers are a vital resource in delivering food security for future generations."
The Oxford farming conference is one of the biggest conferences in the agricultural industry, attracting over 500 delegates, including over 250 farmers, every year. Other speakers included Lord Hesletine, Hilary Benn and Jean-Luc Demarty, EU Director General for Agriculture and Rural Development.
More than 90 per cent of Scotland is rural some of which is very remote or sparsely populated. Scotland's overall population density is about one-sixth of that of the Netherlands. There are 96 inhabited islands and Edinburgh is further north than Moscow. Scotland supports an estimated 50,000 land species, including over 40 species of mammal and almost 250 species of birds - half of the species of birds regularly occurring in Europe.
Food production is worth £7.5 billion per year to the Scottish economy. The Scottish Government aims to grow this to £10 billion by 2017.