The Scottish Government

Theme 1:Underpinning performance and quality in the agriculture, food processing and forestry sectors

a. Enhance the competitive performance of producers by

• supporting adaptation to the changing regime of support for the land-based sector and to more competition in the market place;
• providing investment support, advice and training to businesses to help them meet the challenges facing this sector in a sustainable way;
• supporting farmer groups, co-operation and knowledge sharing, including the use of monitor farms;
• encouraging proactive animal health and welfare measures to reduce production costs; and,
• supporting innovation and competitiveness in forestry, including co-operation, knowledge sharing and joint marketing

b. Develop market focus by

• enabling businesses to respond effectively to changing demands;
• Enhancing the Scottish reputation for quality food, drink and rural products, including the development of local/niche brands;
• ensuring that the agri-food chain focuses on meeting the needs of the market for quality products;
• developing product quality based on the traditional strengths of Scottish produce; and,
• encouraging and supporting the development of biomass and markets for energy crops.

c. Add value and improve supply chain linkages by

• facilitating collaboration and integration across the supply chain to enable the agrifood sector to develop efficiently and effectively; and,
• increasing the proportion of Scottish products that are processed in Scotland

d. Improve the performance of processors by

• investing in the development of an efficient, innovative processing sector that is able to adapt quickly and provide quality Scottish-grown food and forestry products into the market place.

e. Promote an environmentally sustainable industry by

• targeting capital investment to mitigate farm pollution and secure environmental improvement;
• developing products that reflect the high quality of the natural and cultural heritage; and,
• supporting the production of feedstock for renewable energy production

Theme 2: Enhancing rural landscapes and the natural environment

a. Maintain traditional agricultural landscapes in less favoured areas by

• ensuring continued use of land for agriculture and crofting;
• monitoring and promoting sustainable farming systems; and,
• encouraging livestock and cultivation practices that conserve soils as landscape and conservation assets, and that encourage high standards in animal health and welfare.

b. Protect and enhance wildlife/biodiversity by

• supporting and developing high nature value farming, crofting and forestry, and other environmentally friendly land-use practices such as organic farming;
• achieving and maintaining favourable condition of designated sites ( SSSIs, Natura, Ramsar) and undertaking targeted actions elsewhere (particularly Biodiversity Action Plan priorities);
• improving habitat networks among designated sites and in the wider countryside; and,
• addressing threats to biodiversity from climate change and invasive non-native species.

c. Promote sustainable forest management by

• enhancing management of woodlands for biodiversity, landscape and other environmental objectives in accordance with the UK Forestry Standard; and,
• supporting the multifunctional role of forestry through its integration with other landuses.

d. Reduce water pollution, support good quality water and achieve effective management of water resources in and around Scotland by

• reducing diffuse pollution from agriculture and forestry, and achieving and maintaining water quality in accordance with the Water Framework Directive, Bathing Waters Directive and Nitrates Directive; and,
• using natural systems and appropriate land management practices (soft engineering techniques) as means of achieving sustainable flood management.

e. Tackling climate change and meeting relevant international and UK commitments on air quality by

• reducing gaseous emissions from the management and use of rural land in ways which have an impact on climate change and air quality;
• enhancing the significant role played by carbon sinks in Scotland (e.g. peat bogs and woodland planting);
• conserving soil organic matter and encouraging targeted fertiliser applications to reduce emissions to air in addition to climate change mitigation; and,
• adapting to the impacts of climate change, considering the effects on flood risk and biodiversity in particular.

f. Safeguard and enhance landscapes and the historic environment by

• conserving and enhancing the distinct identity, the diverse character and special qualities of Scotland's landscapes; and,
• safeguarding and enhancing the distinct cultural and historic identity of each area, as represented by its significant sites, ancient woodlands, monuments and rural buildings ("heritage assets").

Theme 3: Promoting a more diverse rural economy and thriving rural communities

a. Achieve a thriving and growing business community by

• increasing collaboration and integration between land-based and other businesses;
• supporting innovative diversification of land-based businesses;
• adding value to rural goods and services, including those in the primary (agriculture, forestry), manufacturing and processing, and tourism sectors; and,
• supporting activities that strengthen the value and duration of the tourism season, including support for craft activities.

b. Promote public access and understanding of the countryside by

• increasing people's quality of life through participation in and enjoyment of access to the countryside;
• encouraging land managers to deliver, individually and collectively, outdoor access and community involvement opportunities integrated with their other land management operations;
• raising awareness, respect and understanding of our countryside, food, farming and forestry through "first hand" experience; and,
• using environmental heritage assets and the historic environment sustainably to promote appropriate economic, recreational and educational objectives.

c. Building capacity in rural communities by

• addressing gaps in skills provision and non-mainstream training, complementing the work of local enterprise agencies; and,
• establishing and/or expanding community-led initiatives including building capacity within local groups and structures, including essential skills for group management.

d. Develop the social and environmental performance of rural businesses by

• development and increased local use of renewable energy, e.g. wood fuel;
• resource and waste management improvements;
• more targeted research and development with improved dissemination and transfer of information; and,
• encouraging the development of products and activities that make sustainable use of natural resources, including new energy production methods and using local ecology, habitats, biodiversity and the historic environment as tourism attractions.

e. Supporting rural services and infrastructure by

• improving the physical environment of villages and conserving the rural heritage;
• local scale provision of affordable housing; and,
• developing improvements in storage and distribution to local markets.