Agricultural reform: strategic environmental assessment - post-adoption statement

How the Environmental Report and consultation have been taken into account

The SEA is a statutory requirement, but in addition it will also serve as a strategic benchmark for the Agricultural Reform which is a programme of change to deliver the vision for agriculture. This will sit alongside and act in concert with the Monitoring and Evaluation framework which is being developed. The following assessment findings from the SEA and its recommendations will be used to inform the ongoing reform programme.

Assessment Findings

The Environmental Report details the conclusions and recommendations of the assessment on Scotland’s Agricultural Reform. The findings of the SEA clearly demonstrate that the Agricultural Reform is delivering a range of positive environmental effects across the SEA objectives which is being achieved through an incremental, transitional approach to delivering the Vision for Agriculture. The current Agricultural Reform Route Map sets out changes being introduced in the short-term, while outlining the general direction of travel in the medium- and long-term. This has been formalised in the laying and publication of the Rural Support Plan.

The Agricultural Reform is an iterative programme and this SEA will serve as not only a measure of the developing reform but also as a benchmark with further SEAs being undertaken when appropriate.

Assessment Recommendations

The Environmental Report does provide a breakdown on potential areas where it could be strengthened further.

Mitigation and Enhancement

• Ensure key environmental issues are identified at a high level as strategic priorities to be addressed through future programme reforms.
• Monitoring
• Historic Environment is not mentioned within the Agricultural Report
• Opportunity to acknowledge the role of agriculture in conserving and enhancing the countryside and promoting responsible public access, thereby delivering positive effects for communities, health and wellbeing.

Tier 1

• WFP Nutrient Management Plan should be brought forward not just recommended by 2028
• Require SSBSS claimants to include a basic herd fertility plan in their Whole Farm Plan, to ensure improved herd management. Build on existing good practice in managing indoor calving areas by encouraging improved bedding, secure muck storage and runoff controls
• Cross-compliance – new protections for peatlands and wetlands
  • A number of suggested improvements were made and will be given due consideration going forwards.
• Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS) – again a number of recommendations were made for future development but suggested under updated Whole Farm plan.

Tier 2

• A number of recommendations were included that could be delivered through the Greening Scheme using the current EFA model linked to permanent grassland requirements which have been noted and will be given due consideration going forwards. They do not undermine or replace the changes that are confirmed to be delivered for 2026 and 2027, but they would increase the number of businesses contributing to the Tier 2 policy outcomes and support transitional change towards an Enhanced Scheme.

Tier 3

The report made several recommendations including increasing the budget weighting towards Tier 3 activities. Other points relate to Historic Environment and recreational access which remain unchanged under the route map changes.

The report also suggests areas offering further opportunity within the Forestry Grant Scheme which can be considered further in due course.

Tier 4

The Strategic Environmental Assessment report identifies Tier 4 to be an integral part of the Agricultural Reform Programme, rather than being treated as environmentally neutral or incidental.

Tier 4 (Complementary) provides indirect support rather than payments for land management actions. Its core purpose is to build capacity across the sector and includes a number of elements:

• Advisory services (AKIS, Farm Advisory Services)
• Knowledge transfer and skills development
• Professional development and training
• Innovation, collaboration and supply‑chain support
• Business planning and transition support

Tier 4 is intended to build capacity in the sector to enable effective delivery of environmental outcomes in Tiers 1–3 of the Agricultural Reform Programme, rather than deliver those outcomes directly. The SEA identifies Tier 4 as critical to achieving the positive environmental effects expected elsewhere in the framework.

The SEA concludes that:

• Tier 4 generates indirect but significant positive environmental effects
• These effects arise by increasing uptake, quality, and consistency of sustainable practices enabled by:
  • Training
  • Advice
  • Knowledge exchange
  • Systems understanding

The SEA identifies Tier 4 as essential to turning environmental ambition into environmental outcomes. It enables, amplifies, and safeguards the environmental performance of the whole reform programme.

SG Response: The recommended mitigation and enhancement actions do not undermine, replace or counter the changes made and merely offer further opportunities for improvement over time and will be given due consideration as part of the iterative programme of change. As part of the just transition approach to agricultural reform the National Test Programme and the Preparing for Sustainable Farming programme were consulted upon and launched in 2022 and provided funding for options which have gone on to inform the development of the Whole Farm Plan. This approach is designed to bring farmers and crofters on the journey to deliver the vision for agriculture with minimal impact on the business.