Publication - Minutes

Academic Advisory Panel – 2 March 2026

Published: 8 July 2026
Directorate: Environment and Forestry Directorate
Topic: Environment and climate change
Date of meeting: 2 March 2026

Minutes from the meeting of the group on 2 March 2026.

Part of

Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board

Items and actions

Climate Adaptation for Agriculture

Alignment of the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA) Research Programme strategy with the Scottish National Adaptation Plan (SNAP3) objectives for agriculture, and priority climate adaptation options for agriculture in Scotland.

1. Introduction

The chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced the meeting.

2. Alignment of the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA) Research Programme strategy with the Scottish National Adaptation Plan (SNAP3).

Scotland’s agriculture is experiencing intensifying climate impacts, including extreme weather and rising pest and disease pressures, and is also well placed to take adaptation actions which also support climate mitigation. Through SNAP3, the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024, and the Vision for Agriculture, policy focuses on nature-based solutions, resilience, and sustainable production. This is supported by the ENRA Research Programme, with its 2027–32 strategy prioritising adaptation and aligning research with policy to deliver practical outcomes across land management, ecosystems, and food systems.

The Academic Advisory Panel (AAP) was invited to comment on how well aligned the ENRA Research Programme (2027-32) is with policy measures and SNAP 3 objectives for agriculture, identifying gaps, and areas requiring further attention.

An advisory note capturing key discussion points and panel’s recommendations will be published on the ARIOB website.

3. Climate adaptation options for agriculture in Scotland.

As Scotland’s climate changes there is an increasing need to understand what options farmers have available to them to adapt their farm practices and businesses. A report has been prepared summarising a set of options that farmers in Scotland could implement to improve the resilience of their farms to the impacts of climate change.

The Academic Advisory Panel (AAP) was invited to provide their opinion on options most important for climate adaptation in Scotland, ease of their implementation and suitability for different climate change projections, and other options that have not been included in the report.