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Government partnership with farmers
22/02/2008
A partnership for success, with Government and farmers working together to deliver a strong, sustainable rural economy, was promised today by Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Richard Lochhead.
In his first speech to NFU Scotland's Council, Mr Lochhead vowed to build on the positive relationship he has developed with the farming industry since taking office.
He said he would continue to work to secure the best outcomes for Scotland's farmers in the UK and Europe.
And he encouraged farmers to step up their efforts to meet the demands of modern consumers and the challenges of emerging global trends to deliver a sustainable future for themselves, for Scotland and for the planet.
In a wide-ranging speech he reflected on his first nine months in office and set out his vision for farming in the 21st century, including:
- increasing agriculture's contribution to the Scottish economy from £800 million to £1 billion by 2016
- greater diversification into renewable projects (such as biogas production and anaerobic digestion), organic farming and tree planting to help tackle climate change
- bridging the gap between food production and consumption so that consumers understand more about farming and farmers understand what today's consumers want
- a fair price for farmers
- a review of farming regulations, with a view to removing unnecessary red tape
- Scottish control over all animal health and welfare issues, including cost and responsibility sharing
- Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform which recognises the unique nature of Scottish farming
Mr Lochhead said:
"This Government is ambitious for the future of Scotland, ambitious for the future of rural Scotland and ambitious for the future of Scottish farming.
"Farming is an integral part of our vision for 21st century Scotland. Not only is it central to our rural economy, it is part of who and what we are. It is part of Scotland's soul.
"There is a huge opportunity ahead if our nation and industry respond effectively to the challenges that face us in the modern world: changing global trends, new consumer demands and, the greatest challenge of all, climate change.
"The Scottish Government will help farmers do that. We will stand with them and fight their corner. We will support their demands for a fair deal - in Scotland, in the UK and in Europe.
"From what I have learned about the industry over the past nine months I have no doubt farmers have the determination, enthusiasm and ability to meet the challenges they face and use them to deliver even greater success.
"Food perhaps best sums up the challenges and opportunities which farming faces. That is why we will put in place Scotland's first-ever food policy with the aim of delivering the freshest, finest future for Scottish food and farmers. The food policy will help us achieve a great deal - economic gain, environmental improvements and health benefits.
"But it is clear we cannot take food production for granted and that farmers are facing a constant battle for a fair price. On top of that consumer demands are constantly changing, which is why I want to bring producers and consumers closer together so that each supports the other.
"Scottish farming has a strong tradition of adapting to change but the new £1.6 billion Scottish Rural Development Programme will provide further support for innovation and diversification. I am pleased to announce today that Brussels has formally approved the programme.
"This cash, together with the Government's backing for farming and farmers' commitment to change, will ensure that in the 21st century our agricultural sector is the most dynamic in the world."