Rural Support Plan (RSP) - Annex
The Rural Support Plan as required in terms of s2 of the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 outlining the expected use by Scottish Ministers during the plan period of the powers conferred on them by s6 of the Act - support within the four tier framework
Tier 4 – Complementary
What will it do?
Tier Four will help to grow skills and capabilities. This will include training and advice. It will focus on ensuring applicants are prepared for the suite of management options, new practices, and innovation under Tiers 1-3. Tier Four also provides support for community-led approaches in rural and island areas as well as supporting the capacity building and networking of rural communities.
What will it achieve?
Tier Four will support a just transition to sustainable and regenerative agriculture. While the principal outcome for Tier Four is “Support for a Just Transition,” Tier Four will underpin progress across all of the strategic outcomes.
Tier 4 principal strategic outcomes:
- Support for a Just Transition
Tier 4 supporting strategic outcomes:
- Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
- Nature Restoration
- High Quality Food Production
- Enabling Thriving Rural Communities
It should be noted that principal and supporting outcomes are both important and this distinction reflects how resources are allocated within each Tier. These strategic outcomes will be used as the basis for the monitoring and evaluation of Tier Four and its associated schemes against the objectives set out in the ARC Act.
What has changed?
We will start off using existing schemes and make changes over time. Changes already introduced for the 2026/2027 financial year are:
1. Introduction of the Agritourism Investment Scheme
2. Introduction of Food and Drink Processing Support
Contact
Email: CAP.SRDP.Policy@gov.scot