INDUSTRY leaders have warned that ill-advised decisions on future support for Scottish agriculture could ‘destabilise and damage primary production businesses’.

The Food and Agriculture Stakeholders Taskforce (FAST) welcomed progress from Cabinet Secretary Mairi Gougeon on policy timeline commitments and processes, as a ‘first step’, but have called for greater co-design with industry moving forward.

“This is no panacea, but it does give us the best insight into Scottish Government’s future plans for farming to date. However, we’d once again urge the Government to better engage with the industry to get it right,” stressed Teresa Dougall, FAST’s rotating chair. “Poor or ill-informed decisions on future financial and policy support could destabilise and damage primary production businesses, negatively impacting the wider supply chain at the same time.

“FAST’s door is very much open to work constructively together with Scottish Government on this, and we’ve invited ministers and civil servants to meet with us and take advantage of the huge wealth of perspectives we can offer from around the table.”

FAST members pointed out that lack of clear communication will hinder progress, as exemplified by the low uptake of the National Test Programme.

“We knew something was coming, but the detail was poorly communicated. By the time the National Test Programme was announced, consultants didn’t have the capacity to take on the work, some farmers have been discouraged by having to submit claims themselves or not fully understanding its proposed merits, and the consequence is that uptake so far has been very low.

“As plans are announced for new conditionality requirements, beef calf, sheep and arable schemes, we’d urge policy makers to avoid gold plating and to work with industry to co-design a practical agricultural policy that promotes food production in healthy landscapes and gives workable, long-term security to businesses along the food supply chain,” she concluded.