Friday 16 May 2008 @ 16:50
Scottish Government
Scottish Government
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Farming and climate change
Calls for greater awareness of the need for action on climate change by Scotland's agriculture sector were outlined by a new report published today.
Other recommendations in the Report of the Agriculture and Climate Change Stakeholder Group include the need for:
* Better communication on how agriculture can adapt to and help mitigate climate change
* Closer policy integration on land use
* Improved reporting of green house gas emissions from agriculture
In Dumfries as part of his Founders Day speech at Crichton Campus, Environment Minister Michael Russell also highlighted a number of opportunities that combating climate change presented to Scottish farmers.
He said:
"There is no doubt that in recent years awareness of the serious threat climate change poses has increased significantly.
"We are committed to taking action to reduce emissions and to help Scotland adapt to their impacts.
"It is quite fitting that I have the chance to publish a report on the part that agriculture can play while in Dumfries and Galloway, one of Scotland's foremost farming regions.
"The Founders Day speech at Crichton is also a suitable occasion to launch a report that is of great significance to the wider farming sector.
"Climate change brings opportunities as well as threats to the agriculture sector, who have a significant role to play in reducing carbon emissions.
"I am most grateful to Henry Graham and his colleagues on the Agriculture and Climate Change Stakeholder Group, who have just completed their detailed report for us on this.
"I want this report to be a platform for action and we will be using next month's Royal Highland Show to work with the sector on how we can mitigate the effects of climate change."
The Group was chaired by Henry Graham, a sirector of the Scottish Agricultural College who was previously head of agribusiness for the Clydesdale Bank.
It also included representatives from NFU Scotland, SRPBA, Environment LINK, Macaulay, SCRI, SAC, Forestry Commission Scotland and SEPA, as well as Professor Jeff Maxwell. It was asked to examine the implications for Scottish agriculture of climate change, in terms of both opportunities for adaptation and mitigation actions.
Opportunities identified for reducing emissions include:
* making better use of fertilisers and manure/slurry
* reducing soil disturbance
* improved livestock diets
* the use of biomass and biogas to generate heat and/or electricity
* hydro power
* wind power
* improved energy efficiency of machinery and buildings
In addition it highlighted the important opportunities for storing atmospheric carbon, for example through woodland creation, restoration of degraded soils and reduced drainage.
The report also makes a number of recommendations about research needs, about making sure that we take full advantage of policy instruments such as the Scotland Rural Development Programme in promoting change, and about the need for industry action.
Tackling climate change is one of the aims of the Scottish Government's 10 Greener Pledges.
Related Information
Other recommendations in the Report of the Agriculture and Climate Change Stakeholder Group include the need for:
* Better communication on how agriculture can adapt to and help mitigate climate change
* Closer policy integration on land use
* Improved reporting of green house gas emissions from agriculture
In Dumfries as part of his Founders Day speech at Crichton Campus, Environment Minister Michael Russell also highlighted a number of opportunities that combating climate change presented to Scottish farmers.
He said:
"There is no doubt that in recent years awareness of the serious threat climate change poses has increased significantly.
"We are committed to taking action to reduce emissions and to help Scotland adapt to their impacts.
"It is quite fitting that I have the chance to publish a report on the part that agriculture can play while in Dumfries and Galloway, one of Scotland's foremost farming regions.
"The Founders Day speech at Crichton is also a suitable occasion to launch a report that is of great significance to the wider farming sector.
"Climate change brings opportunities as well as threats to the agriculture sector, who have a significant role to play in reducing carbon emissions.
"I am most grateful to Henry Graham and his colleagues on the Agriculture and Climate Change Stakeholder Group, who have just completed their detailed report for us on this.
"I want this report to be a platform for action and we will be using next month's Royal Highland Show to work with the sector on how we can mitigate the effects of climate change."
The Group was chaired by Henry Graham, a sirector of the Scottish Agricultural College who was previously head of agribusiness for the Clydesdale Bank.
It also included representatives from NFU Scotland, SRPBA, Environment LINK, Macaulay, SCRI, SAC, Forestry Commission Scotland and SEPA, as well as Professor Jeff Maxwell. It was asked to examine the implications for Scottish agriculture of climate change, in terms of both opportunities for adaptation and mitigation actions.
Opportunities identified for reducing emissions include:
* making better use of fertilisers and manure/slurry
* reducing soil disturbance
* improved livestock diets
* the use of biomass and biogas to generate heat and/or electricity
* hydro power
* wind power
* improved energy efficiency of machinery and buildings
In addition it highlighted the important opportunities for storing atmospheric carbon, for example through woodland creation, restoration of degraded soils and reduced drainage.
The report also makes a number of recommendations about research needs, about making sure that we take full advantage of policy instruments such as the Scotland Rural Development Programme in promoting change, and about the need for industry action.
Tackling climate change is one of the aims of the Scottish Government's 10 Greener Pledges.
Related Information
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/05/15115150/0
