In a frank online rant, NFU Scotland president Martin Kennedy has taken aim at environmental organisations for ignoring the importance of productive agriculture to climate change, biodiversity and above all, food.

Mr Kennedy's 800-word post was shared over 750 times across facebook, with dozens of supportive comments from farmers across Scotland and beyond.

“What I am absolutely furious about is the fact that yet again we see the environmental Non-Governmental Organisations giving agriculture a kicking for the 'damage' we are continuing to do to our land,” said Mr Kennedy. “There is actually a technical term for this ill informed rhetoric – it’s called ‘bollocks’."

The union president then slammed claims that agriculture depletes soil carbon, highlighting the carbon audit results for his own Perthshire hill farm. After taking 26 core samples over eight fields he found the carbon levels in his soil were well above the world average: “Our fields were not only way above the norm but three of them were actually double. There are many parts of the world that couldn’t get close to 0.5% let alone the guideline of 3%."

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His fields measured 4% carbon at their lowest, and 6.3% at their highest.

Mr Kennedy described environmental NGO's campaign to base agricultural policy on the environment rather than on food production as ‘extremely dangerous'.

“Without profitable agriculture we will not have the people on the ground to deliver on any of our targets. The critical mass – something too many people don’t understand – of all products would be lost which then affects the viability of all parts of the food chain.

"Scotland’s economy would completely implode without active farming and crofting. Rural depopulation would lead to vast areas becoming scrublands so in a dry year wild fires would be the norm. Probably most importantly, our ability to produce food would be completely undermined so we would see the less well-off struggle more in terms of affordable food.”

Mr Kennedy's social media rant was welcomed on farms across Scotland and beyond. Sutherland farmer Joyce Campbell, who herself has thousands of online followers, said: “Great results Martin – excellent post!” The tirade also received backing from former UFU president Barclay Bell and Harrison & Heatherington CEO Scott Donaldson.

Director of environmental NGO WWF Scotland, Lang Banks, responded: “Farmers and crofters are at the frontline of climate change and have a huge role to play in leading the fight against the climate and nature crises. It was good to see emissions from the sector reduce in 2020, but there’s so much more to be done if we’re to get on track to reach net zero and restore nature.

“ScotGov now has a critical opportunity to reshape how agriculture is funded into the future. It needs to set out a new rural support system that makes it easier to sustainably produce food, whilst restoring our natural environment and tackling climate pollution. But it’s crucial the transition is fair and equitable, supporting farm businesses, rural jobs and thriving rural communities.”