Leading politicians to address farmers and crofters

Leading Scottish politicians will address Scotland’s farmers and crofters when they rally on Wednesday 2 November from 12 noon to 2pm outside the Scottish Parliament, Holyrood, Edinburgh.  The aim of the rally is to deliver a crystal-clear message to the Scottish Parliament, Scottish Government, MSPs and officials that farming, crofting and food production must be the central pillar of its new agricultural policy for Scotland and remind them that #FoodNeedsAFarmer.

Those politicians who have accepted an invite to address the rally include the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Mairi Gougeon MSP; Scottish Conservative Party leader Douglas Ross MSP; Scottish Labour Party’s Colin Smyth MSP; Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP and Green MSP Ariane Burgess.

The rally comes at a time when Scotland’s farmers and crofters are being consulted by Scottish Government on a future agricultural policy for the nation.

According to NFU Scotland President, Martin Kennedy: “The Scottish Government consultation on a new Agriculture Bill is a critical step on the road to a new agricultural policy and determining fundamental changes to how farming and crofting will be supported in the future. But farmers and crofters are being asked to discuss these massive issues in an information vacuum.

“Farmers and crofters will deliver a clear message that any powers created by the proposed new Agriculture Bill must put food production at the heart of delivering all the economic, social and environmental benefits that all agricultural businesses will be asked to deliver.

“The Scottish Parliament must acknowledge that active farming and crofting have the answers when it comes to putting high quality, local, sustainable, and affordable food on the table and at the same time delivering for the nation on climate change and biodiversity.

“Only farmers and crofters across Scotland can turn the dry legislation of a new Agriculture Bill into practices that deliver for food, climate and nature but we need to know now from Scottish Government what those options look like.

“The lack of recognition of our industry within the Bill, and all it delivers, is unacceptable and fails to acknowledge the urgent need to address the worsening food security crisis.  We are holding this rally to drive home the message that #FoodNeedsAFarmer.”  

Notes for editors

• NFU Scotland’s #FoodNeedsAFarmer rally will take place on Wednesday 2 November from 12 noon to 2pm outside the Scottish Parliament, Holyrood, Edinburgh.  All NFU Scotland members are asked to liaise with their Regional Manager for more information on how they can take part.  Bus transport is being provided in all regions.  Further details on the rally including a resource pack of banners and posters are available at: https://www.nfus.org.uk/policy/rally-at-scottish-parliament-2022.aspx
• NFU Scotland’s Autumn Conference, which will include presentations from Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland, David Duguid MP and the Scottish Government Minister for Environment and Land Reform, Mairi McAllan MSP, will take place at the Carnegie Centre, Dunfermline on Thursday 27 October starting at 9.30am. Media wishing to register for in person or online attendance can go to: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NFUSAutumnConferenceRegistration
  

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Contact Bob Carruth on 07788 927675