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Scotland’s new farming deal falls short on nature and climate ambition

Scotland
Policy & Views
Agriculture Bill
climate action
climate change
Farming budget
policy
Government

Photo © Joanne Coates for the Nature Friendly Farming Network

The New Deal for Agriculture, recently announced by Scottish First Minister John Swinney, brings welcome investment in the future of farming. However, NFFN Scotland warns that the proposed payment schemes lack the ambition needed to properly support those doing the most for nature.

Scottish First Minister John Swinney recently unveiled the New Deal for Agriculture in Scotland, committing £20 million in capital support for 2025 and an additional £26 million for 2026.

Key announcements include a £14 million Future Farming Investment Scheme, which can be used to improve efficiency or promote nature- and climate-friendly farming practices. Additionally, the Agri-Environment and Climate Scheme (AECS) will be re-opened, supporting farmers in restoring hedgerows, creating ponds, converting to organic and providing maintenance assistance.

There are also promises of support for new entrants into Scottish farming, along with discussions with crofters to ensure the ongoing agricultural transition benefits them. The Scottish Government is also aiming to secure a larger funding settlement for the country’s agricultural sector, beyond the current allocation based on the population-based Barnett Formula. 

The current distribution of funding leaves the Scottish Government far short of its own ambition to become a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture

Adam Forrest

While these developments are welcome, we remain concerned about the details of the future payment scheme announced so far. Mr Swinney has indicated that 70% of the total funding for agriculture will be allocated to the least-ambitious Tiers 1 and 2 in the new four-tier support system, with 70% of that funding going towards the universal, entry-level payments.

This level of funding is insufficiently ambitious to secure the widespread adoption of nature-friendly farming while also futureproofing food production against the impacts of the climate crisis. We are therefore calling on the Scottish Government to allocate more resources to the most ambitious tiers, which will support farmers aiming to go furthest and do the most for nature.

The Scottish Government will also need to move quickly to meet some of the spending commitments.

NFFN Scotland Manager Adam Forrest said: “The new Future Farming Investment Scheme is welcome, as we have long advocated for a flexible capital grant scheme that recognises farmers as the best judges of what their land needs in terms of resilient infrastructure and a shift towards more nature-friendly farming approaches.

“The challenge for the Scottish Government now will be to move quickly to finalise the scheme and share the details with farmers so they can start planning the most effective use of the funding, make their applications, and coordinate the delivery of their projects. 

“However, the current distribution of the total agricultural funding does not meet the scale of need and will not adequately support nature restoration or climate change mitigation. It also leaves the Scottish Government far short of its own ambition to become a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture."