Agriculture Policy Development Group
Overview
The Agriculture Policy Development Group (PDG) was set up in 2021 alongside the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board (ARIOB). Its role was to support the ARIOB's work and help deliver a Programme for Government commitment. This commitment aimed to take forward recommendations from farmer-led groups covering suckler beef, arable, pig, dairy, and hill, upland and crofting.
The ARIOB closed in August 2026. Since then, the PDG has grown beyond its original core membership and taken on a wider role, as outlined in the terms of reference. Its members bring a mix of farming, crofting, geographical and environmental expertise. They review and challenge proposals brought to meetings by Scottish Government officials, helping to shape agricultural policy that supports the Vision for Agriculture.
The group meets when needed, depending on progress with agricultural reform. After each meeting, a note will be published on this page.
Related groups
Members
The group will be chaired by the Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands and its membership consists of:
- Andrew Moxey, Pareto Consulting
- Steven Thomson, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC)
- Denise Walton, farmer and Nature Friendly Farming Network
- Martin Kennedy, farmer and former National Farmers Union of Scotland (NFUS) President
- Jonnie Hall, NFUS
- Richard Lockett, Lockett Agri-Environmental
- Ian Davidson, independent
- Donna Smith, Scottish Crofting Federation
- Sarah Simpson, farmer (interim basis, initially)