Measuring the impacts of Scotland's agricultural support – a national level monitoring framework

Further data gaps

Despite the wide range of data sources available for the framework, and the continued efforts across Scottish Government and its academic partners to establish more robust environmental and agricultural monitoring, there are a few remaining data gaps that would bolster the framework. These are presented here as opportunities for further research.

Soil monitoring

Although private testing and sampling of soils is more widespread than ever in the industry, the most recent systematic, national soil data dates back to 2009. Although soils change slowly, this means a data lag of 16 years from baseline. Previous data collection through the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) Countryside Survey provided an understanding of physical condition of soils, contaminant levels, and soil biodiversity status, among other metrics. Work in the Scottish Government’s 2022-2027 Strategic Research Programme (SRP) is assessing the use and sensitivity of indicators for the detection of change in soil health, and how that relates to changes in the delivery of ecosystem services that require protection and enhancement.

Soil testing is undertaken by farms as part of Whole Farm Plans. However, the information collected in these audits are not currently available to Scottish Government.

Nature monitoring

Farm level monitoring of biodiversity and nature would provide a better understanding of how the Plan is contributing to solving the biodivesity crisis. Biodiversity Audits are undertaken by farms as part of Whole Farm Plans. The information collected in these audits is captured by Scottish Government LPIS team as part of the Whole Farm Plan condition to delivering Tier 1 payments. Up to summer 2026, only around 25% of claimants submitted their biodiversity audit map. All will have expected to have submitted a map by 2028. Large scale monitoring across Scotland is currently not undertaken, although previous data collection through the UKCEH Countryside Survey provided an understanding of habitat diversity, connectivity of habitats, and plant diversity.

Carbon stores

Carbon stores under the framework will be monitored at national level through woodland on farmland and peatland restoration. However, collecting and reporting on data at farm level would provide a more accurate and rounded picture of carbon storage on farms. Carbon Audits are undertaken by farms as part of Whole Farm Plans. However, the information collected in these audits are not currently available to Scottish Government.

Water scarcity and adaptation

Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and severity of droughts and periods of water scarcity, creating growing pressures on agricultural production and the wider water environment. While the uptake of irrigation lagoons provides an indication of investment in adaptation, it does not measure water use, abstraction patterns or water-use efficiency directly. To understand how well farms are adapting to increasing water scarcity, more comprehensive monitoring of agricultural water use and abstraction is required. Significant data gaps remain, particularly around the consistency, coverage and timeliness of water abstraction monitoring data.

A current project under the Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change (MACC) hub will address an evidence gap on how real-time and retrospective water abstraction monitoring can support climate adaptation and water scarcity management. By reviewing international monitoring technologies, regulatory approaches and reporting systems, the project will identify lessons relevant to agriculture and could help inform the development of a more consistent Scottish water abstraction indicator.