The long-awaited agriculture bill has passed Stage 1 in the Scottish Parliament.

MSPs voted in favour of the principles behind reforms to how the Scottish Government supports farming and food production in the Agriculture and Rural Communities Bill.

The SNP/Green administration says the bill aims to help farmers and crofters to produce more of what we eat more sustainably, support their essential role in climate mitigation, and nature restoration.

It will also create a framework of payments that is responsive to the sector’s needs and incentivises low carbon approaches.

The debate saw Holyrood’s latest MSP, Tory Tim Eagle take part from his farm during lambing. He explained he had put in tups last year not expecting to become an MSP, however the elevation the lords of his colleague Donald Cameron, saw Mr Eagle enter parliament on the list system.

READ MORE | Bill offers little clarity to farmers and crofters

Rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon told MSPs that agriculture continues to play a significant role in our rural economy and the bill ‘has been forced on us by a Brexit that we neither voted for nor wanted, but we have taken that necessity and have, by working side by side with farmers, crofters, land managers and representative and stakeholder organisations, sought to create a new way of supporting farming in Scotland that responds to our unique circumstances.’

After the debate, SNP MSP Alasdair Allan said: “The SNP is leading the way on supporting farmers, and this bill outlines our vision of Scotland as a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture.

“By focusing on high quality food production, climate mitigation, nature restoration and the well-being of rural and island communities we can improve the sustainability of food production, well-being of producers and health of our environment.

“Crucially, the SNP Government’s approach puts farmers and producers at the heart of reform, and we see the benefits of this every day – so much so that Westminster is now trying to catch up.”

However, Tory rural affairs spokesperson Rachael Hamilton slammed the lack of detail in the legislation.

She said: “This is a bill that fails to provide little detail for our farmers, crofters and wider agriculture sector.

“It is little wonder that – like myself – they have lost faith in this SNP-Green government to stand up for them. They have slashed funding from the agriculture budget and been posted missing in action when it comes to producing a future rural support plan.

“Rural Scotland has been abandoned by the SNP-Green government. They are on the sidelines with this bill, when they should be at the heart of it.”

Ahead of the debate, NFU Scotland continued to lobby politicians and provided a written briefing to MSPs on its key asks for the legislation.

The union welcomed the commitment to co-develop the powers with industry and with those who will be affected by them, adding it is important not just for farming and crofting businesses, but the wider rural community that relies on the sector.

The organisation also called for the five-year Rural Support Plan to be underpinned by a multi-annual ringfenced funding commitment.

It said: “There are no certainties regarding what agricultural funding will be available from Westminster beyond the end of the current parliament.

“NFU Scotland is also calling for at least another £1bn to be added to the UK budget for agriculture, which would equate to at least an extra £170m under current allocation.”

The union also reiterated the need to consult those directly affected by the Rural Support Plan during the preparation, or any subsequent reviews, of plans.

It welcomed Scottish Government’s commitment to Tiers 1 and 2 constituting at least 70% of the overall funding envelope from 2027, and additional funding for the LFA Scheme.

Concluding the debate, Mairi Gougeon said: “It is important that we do not forget that agriculture is devolved and that it is for the Government and the Parliament here to decide what our policy on agriculture should be in the future, and how we will support its delivery.

“Scotland has a unique landscape, and our agricultural interests and capabilities are different from those of the other nations in the UK.”