POLITICIANS must recognise Scottish farming's strong economic and environmental contribution during the Brexit negotiations.

That was the message that NFU Scotland took to its first ever national political party conference, as it targeted the Conservative gathering in Manchester this week, highlighting the proposals in its discussion document ‘Change – A New Agricultural Policy for Scotland Post-Brexit’.

The union made it clear that, with 13 new Conservative MPs representing Scotland in the House of Commons, it wants to see them deliver on behalf of their agricultural constituents. The event heard from Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Scotland Office, Lord Duncan of Springbank, and was chaired by Union Vice President Martin Kennedy.

Next week – Monday October 9 – the union will be hosting a lunchtime fringe event at the SNP's national conference in Glasgow, which will be addressed by Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy Fergus Ewing MSP and chaired by NFU Scotland President Andrew McCornick.

Speaking from the Conservative conference, Mr Kennedy said: “Food and drink is one of the biggest drivers in Scotland's economy, with big ambitions to grow the industry to £30 billion by 2030.

“Scotland's farmers and crofters are the bedrock of this booming industry and are up for the challenge, but to deliver on these ambitions they must be supported by governments as we enter a particularly uncertain future outside of the EU.

“It was encouraging to see such a good turnout at this event and the quality of discussion gives us confidence that the important role Scottish farming plays is being recognised. But we must not take this for granted – the whole industry must unite to deliver strong messages to governments about what policy tools we need in the toolbox to rise to the challenge."

Mr Kennedy stressed that any new agricultural policy for the UK after it leaves Europe and the CAP must have "significant inbuilt flexibilities" to deliver at a devolved level, allowing the right policies to be developed for the right areas – and allowing Scotland’s active farmers and crofters to improve productivity and the environment, rather than, as Mr Kennedy put it "incentivising inertia".

“Conferences are where the foundations of party policy begin," he noted. "Attending the Conservative Conference in this important year for Scottish agriculture is giving NFUS greater access to key decision-makers and we look forward to making the same arguments when we get in front of delegates at the SNP conference in Glasgow next week.”