A ONE-STOP shop to showcase climate action in farming has been launched with the aim of inspiring other farmers and crofters to introduce similar measures on their own farms.

The Agriculture, Biodiversity and Climate Change Network (ABCCN) will allow farmers and crofters to share their climate change mitigation activities in one location online, providing information, videos and photos, detailing the measures they have undertaken.

It will be a joint government and industry initiative between the Scottish Government, NFU Scotland, QMS, Soil Association Scotland and SAC Consulting and it will be published on the Farming for a Better Climate website.

Commenting, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “We need to work together to reach our climate and environment goals. In the Climate Change Plan update, we committed to launching a new and expanded peer to peer knowledge transfer initiative based on the success of our Young Farming Climate Champions work.

“We know there are farmers and crofters who are already doing some fantastic work to help reach these goals,” she continued. “We wanted to create something that would allow them to share their work so that others can take action to mitigate and adapt to climate change, as well as increasing biodiversity.

“One of the benefits of this network will be that we’re making it inclusive by allowing anyone who is taking action on climate and environment to take part. This will allow us to get advice and support from farmers and crofters in every area of Scotland and help inspire others to take action now.”

NFUS climate change policy manager Kate Hopper hoped that the new network would give deserved recognition to the efforts already being taken by farmers and crofters: “Scottish farmers and crofters across the country are working hard to adopt new and exciting innovations on farm to provide consumers with sustainably-produced, tasty, and nutritious food with concern for the environment at the forefront.

Read more: No quick fix to climate change

“Peer-to-peer knowledge sharing is a powerful tool and we believe that this new network will help drive change by being a source of inspiration, where farmers and crofters can support one another by exchanging ideas as well as showcasing good practice.”

QMS director of market intelligence and external affairs, Sarah Millar, agreed that the network would be an opportunity to showcase the positive actions Scotland’s red meat producers have been making to tackle both the climate and biodiversity emergencies. She said: “Farmers can use peer-to-peer knowledge exchange to help embed changes and new practices on their farms, and we look forward to showcasing innovations and good practice as part of the initiative.”

Soil Association Scotland’s senior farming programmes manager Colleen McCulloch concluded: “In times where the amount of information on how to do it can be overwhelming, learning from peers is one of the most powerful ways to inspire and drive change. We believe that sharing the brilliant work being developed on the ground by these fantastic innovators across Scotland will inspire others, providing ideas and starting points to adopt new practices, and be a key part of driving a climate and nature-positive revolution.”