Parliamentary rally for a ‘Just Transition’

During the summer months while parliament has been in recess, there has been a flood of consultations and calls for evidence on a wide range of subjects, from the National Food Plan to the Climate Change Plan and lots in between.

One of those has been the delayed publication of a draft Land use and Agriculture Just Transition Plan. This may not set hearts racing, but it is an essential part of the puzzle if Scotland is to meet statutory targets on climate and nature.

The Scottish Government has committed to reaching ‘net zero’ by 2045 – an economy wide goal that will require all sectors, including agriculture and land use, to reduce emissions (although not, as some have interpreted, for individual farms, or the farming sector as whole, to get to ‘net zero’).

The Ministerial foreword to the consultation document defines a ‘just transition’ as both the outcome – a fairer, greener future for all – and the process to get there, which, it says, “must be undertaken in partnership with those affected”. That means farmers, growers, crofters and other land managers – and indeed all those who live in rural areas – having their voices heard.

But is policy development for agriculture and land use on the right track? Are the measures set out so far likely to deliver a ‘just transition’? And if not, what needs to change?

Making your voice heard

Next week, on Wednesday 3 September, there will be an opportunity to do just that – at a rally organised outside Holyrood by the Scottish Agroecology Partnership (SAP).

The SAP is a new and growing alliance of organisations in Scotland – representing more than 3,000 farmers, crofters and landworkers – which is calling on the Scottish Government to deliver on that promise of a just transition for agriculture.

The group includes Soil Association Scotland, Nature Friendly Farming Network, Landworkers Alliance, Scottish Crofting Federation, Pasture for Life, Nourish Scotland, Propagate and the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission.

Launched at the Royal Highland Show in June, the SAP has set out a list of seven key policy asks to deliver a Just Transition.

Our shared view is that the current pace and scale of change in agricultural policy is not delivering on what was promised in the 2022 Vision for Agriculture and is failing to provide a clear pathway to a just transition for all.

CAP replacement policy

It has been disappointing that nearly ten years on from the EU Referendum, and six years on from the UK’s official exit from the European Union, that the process of replacing the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has left us with a system that looks a lot like the old one.

While the retention of legacy BPS and Greening payments – with only minor changes – will provide financial stability at a challenging time, it risks missing an opportunity to prepare and support the farming sector for that transition to more sustainable production. It also means that the same (larger) farms continue to receive the same amounts of money for doing largely the same things, which will not drive change.

With a limited budget, every decision the government makes has implications for spending elsewhere. If there is no extra funding available – and we strongly believe there should be – then any spending must be targeted to deliver on those climate and nature outcomes.

The government’s own analysis showed that direct payments have not delivered on environmental outcomes, while Greening only had a limited impact. Meanwhile, the smallest share of funding (approx. 5%) is allocated to the Agri-environment Climate Scheme.

A good starting point would be using the powers in the Agriculture and Rural Communities Act to cap the largest payments to free up more money within the budget to better support small and medium sized farms and crofts, invest in local supply chains, integrate more trees on farms and support organic farming and market gardens.

The opportunity ahead

There are now just over six months until the next Scottish election. Soil Association Scotland will soon be publishing its manifesto for what we want to see parties committing to.

There is a big opportunity for a reset on agricultural policy. For the government to stop, take stock, and consider if what has been committed to so far is going to be enough to make the progress on the just transition that was promised.

Going back to the Just Transition consultation document, it states that the transition “will create costs”, such as investment in new equipment and infrastructure. It also says that “the challenge is to ensure such costs are met in a way that is far and just”. It goes on to promise that “there will be opportunities to address inequities, and build a more accessible, inclusive and fairer land use and agricultural sector.”

The SAP agrees with all of that, but right now, we are not seeing the decision making that will enable that to happen. We are stuck with the status quo. Join us from 12–2pm outside the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 3 September – register here.