Academic Advisory Panel – 1 September 2025

Items and actions

Monitoring and Evaluation - indicators framework for monitoring progress towards agricultural support policy outcomes.

1. Introduction  

The chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced new Panel members, Professor Christine Watson from SRUC, and Doctor Andy Evans from UK Agri-Tech Centre.

2. Monitoring and Evaluation

The monitoring and evaluation approach for the agricultural reform programme, set out in the Rural Support Plan, is guided by legal requirements under the Agricultural and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act. Monitoring covers two main areas:

• Delivery - what has been provided and how (e.g., payments, scheme participation, land types supported)
• Impact - the outcomes achieved

Monitoring will assess whether schemes reach the right people effectively and track progress towards key goals such as high-quality food production, resilient farm businesses, tackling climate change, restoring nature, and ensuring a just transition. Indicators will be developed at three levels: programme-wide, tier-specific, and scheme-specific. Work is also underway to account for external factors influencing outcomes, ensuring accurate assessment of impact.

The Academic Advisory Panel (AAP) was invited to review the proposed indicators for sub-outcomes, assessing their balance, identifying gaps, and advising on relevant data sources. The Panel was also asked to suggest additional opportunities, which could strengthen the outcomes framework and improve support for farmers and crofters.

An Advisory Note capturing key discussion points will be presented to the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board (ARIOB), and subsequently published on the ARIOB website.

3. Any other business

The next AAP meeting is scheduled for 24 November 2025.