Written Question · S4W-16286 · Session 4
what assessment it has made of the long-term consequences of the loss of land suitable for food production.
The question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the long-term consequences of the loss of land suitable for food production.
The answer
There are a number of different factors influencing the potential for food production in Scotland. This not only includes the area of agricultural land, but also innovation, changing technologies and the impact of climate change. However it relation to the area of agricultural land, statistics highlight that this has remained relatively static in Scotland over the past 20 years at around 6.2m hectares.
The structure of agricultural holdings and businesses changes from year to year to respond to the changing circumstances farmers face. For example, consolidating smaller holdings or reshaping businesses could result in either an increase or a decrease in agricultural area. Although some agricultural land may be replaced (for example by buildings), it does not necessarily equate to a loss of production for the business, particularly if the development improves efficiency or productivity.
There will always be competing pressures on land use. The Land Use Strategy encourages decision-makers to take account of the value of land highly suitable for food production through one of its ten Principles for Sustainable Land Use
- Where land is highly suitable for a primary use this value should be recognised in decision making.
Public bodies are expected to have regard for the Principles when making plans and taking significant decisions affecting the use of land. The Strategy also encourages individuals, businesses and organisations who have significant land management responsibilities to have regard to the Principles.
The Scottish Government also previously undertook a Rural Land Use Study which captured the conflicts and complementarities between different rural land uses and objectives. The various reports from the study can be accessed at the following link:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Research/About/EBAR/RLUS.
The structure of agricultural holdings and businesses changes from year to year to respond to the changing circumstances farmers face. For example, consolidating smaller holdings or reshaping businesses could result in either an increase or a decrease in agricultural area. Although some agricultural land may be replaced (for example by buildings), it does not necessarily equate to a loss of production for the business, particularly if the development improves efficiency or productivity.
There will always be competing pressures on land use. The Land Use Strategy encourages decision-makers to take account of the value of land highly suitable for food production through one of its ten Principles for Sustainable Land Use
- Where land is highly suitable for a primary use this value should be recognised in decision making.
Public bodies are expected to have regard for the Principles when making plans and taking significant decisions affecting the use of land. The Strategy also encourages individuals, businesses and organisations who have significant land management responsibilities to have regard to the Principles.
The Scottish Government also previously undertook a Rural Land Use Study which captured the conflicts and complementarities between different rural land uses and objectives. The various reports from the study can be accessed at the following link:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Research/About/EBAR/RLUS.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S4W-16286 by reference.