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NFUS holds Holyrood rally

More than 300 NFU Scotland members from all over the country rallied outside the Scottish Parliament last week under the banner ‘#Food Needs A Farmer’.

Ewan Pate
clock • 2 min read
NFUS holds Holyrood rally

More than 300 NFU Scotland members from all over the country rallied outside the Scottish Parliament last week under the banner #Food Needs A Farmer.

About 40 MSPs came out of the building to meet the farmers or take the microphone.

Unsurprisingly, none of the politicians disagreed with the central premise that food security was a desirable aim, but there were few concrete suggestions as to how the goal was to be achieved.

Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon did, however, promise to make a statement in the Holyrood chamber the following week and hinted that it might include details of the next phase of the National Test Programme.

She also reiterated her intention to make sure a Basic Payment Scheme component would be an essential part of the forthcoming Agriculture Bill.

But Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, criticised the lack of progress so far.

He said: We have seen no delivery in Scotland so far six years on from Brexit.

An Agriculture Bill has already been passed in Westminster. It is important though to keep food security at the top of the agenda.

Scottish Liberal Democrat agriculture spokeswoman Claire McLaren added: The current lack of any direction from Scottish Government as to how future financial support will be calculated is holding back critical innovation and investment within the industry.

Scottish agricultures ability to maintain a competitive and resilient food supply chain is under attack.

After listening to contributions from all the Holyrood parties, NFUS President Martin Kennedy said: At a UK level, we have taken our eye off the ball on energy and look at the mess we have got ourselves into.

We cannot repeat that same mistake with food, or the cost of living crisis we are all currently enduring will simply get worse. Food security is now a global issue and we have a moral obligation to produce it.

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