VIEWS are being sought to help Holyrood’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee with its consideration of the Scottish Government’s Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill.
The legislation represents the Scottish Government’s ‘vision for agriculture’ to transform farming and food production in Scotland and to make it a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture.
The Bill provides a framework that Scottish Ministers ‘will use to develop the support that farming and rural communities need in order to adapt to new opportunities and new challenges, and to prosper in a changing world’.
It also gives Scottish Ministers the powers to provide financial support through a four-tier model to farmers, crofters and rural communities to achieve high quality food production; climate mitigation and adaptation; nature restoration and wider rural development.
The Committee is now keen to hear the views of stakeholders and members of the public on the specific proposals.
Committee convener Finlay Carson MSP said: “This legislation is crucial to support our farming, crofting and rural communities to continue to produce high quality food and meet our biodiversity and climate targets.
“It will create a framework which will set the overall policy direction and give Scottish Ministers the powers to provide financial and other support.
“If Scotland is to achieve its ambition of becoming a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture, it is essential the Scottish Government gets this overall policy direction right.
“Sharing your views with us now will directly impact our thinking and will help us secure the best route for Scotland’s agricultural sector to flourish for generations to come.
The deadline for submission is Friday 24 November and the survey can be accessed via https://yourviews.parliament.scot/raine/agriculture-rural-communities-bill/
