A major shake-up of how Scotland’s farmers and crofters access advice and skills development opportunities is required for them to meet the challenges of our changing climate and nature loss, according to new research.
The report ‘Farming for the future: Skills for climate and nature-friendly farming’ by WWF Scotland lays bare the chronic underfunding of the Farm Advisory Service, which is the main provider of information and resources to Scottish farmers. It currently only accounts for less than 1% of Scotland’s annual farm support budget.
The report has five key findings:
Scotland’s Agriculture Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) is fragmented and underfunded
Ruth Taylor, Agriculture and Land Use Policy Manager at WWF Scotland said: “Our climate is changing, with hotter, drier summers and wetter winters challenging farmers and crofters like never before. Demands on farm businesses from supply chains to government policy are adding to the pressures. In order to help their businesses become more resilient many farmers are already experimenting with nature-friendly practices, but the support available just isn’t fit for purpose. That’s why we’re calling for a root and branch review of the Agriculture Knowledge and Innovation Systems to ensure how we grow our food is ready for the challenges ahead.”
Posted On: 04/11/2025
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