Farming: Scottish Government publishes New Rural Support Scheme papers

Scotland, along with the rest of the UK, withdrew from the European Union (EU) in January 2021 following the conclusion of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

This means that Scotland is no longer bound by the rules and support frameworks that underpin the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

But Scottish agriculture still operates in UK agri-food supply chains where cross-border issues remain important, as well as budget allocations from Westminster for agriculture and land use sectors.

To help progress its own unique approach to agricultural policy that supports sustainable food production and tackles climate change and nature restoration, the Scottish Government commissioned work in 2021 to provide expert advice and analytical support to help consider future policy options available for Scotland.

Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), along with partners the James Hutton Institute, Pareto Consulting and ICF were commissioned to provide Economic Advice and Related Services to Support Development of a New Rural Support Scheme for Scotland.

The project ran from November 2021 to March 2023 and this week all 12 reports have been made available for scrutiny.

The reports are:

1. Summary of Future Agricultural Policy Proposals for Northern Ireland.

2. BPS regionalisation options – some conceptual considerations.

3. Summary of Delinking and Lump Sum Direct Payments in England.

4. Summary of the Agricultural Common Support Framework.

5. ‘Actively Farmed Hectares’ - Data analysis and policy considerations.

6. Basic Payment Regionalisation Options - Analysis of Spend and Redistribution Implications.

7. Methane mitigation by feed supplements.

8. EU Member States’ CAP Strategic Plans.

9. Calving Intervals in Scotland’s Cattle Population: Conditionality Options.

10. Protection of Peatlands and Wetlands – a potential new GAEC measure for Scotland.

11. Conceptual delivery approach for Tier 2 enhanced conditionality of agricultural support in Scotland.

12. Key considerations when including biodiversity measures within environmental conditionality.

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