Supporting Scotland's transition - land use and agriculture: consultation

Beginning the journey

In the summer of 2023 we began our co-development process. People told us that a transition as complex and evolving as this must be taken in stages. This means that whilst it is important to have a long-term vision and outcomes, we also need to be delivering early actions. That is why, in this section, we have outlined what we have done so far to hear from people, what they have told us and what we intend to do in response to that.

Our approach so far

Our early work focused on the building blocks of a just transition. For example, considering the evidence needed to provide context for the plan, the draft long-term 2045 vision and outcomes, and what could be possible in terms of monitoring and evaluation.

This work was summarised in the publication of a LAJTP Discussion Document in June 2023. That document was also the basis for discussions, both online and in person, to begin to understand the barriers and opportunities people face. Through this, we noticed that there were still some voices missing and we held further discussions with the National Rural Mental Health Forum, students from SRUC, the National Farmers Union Scotland Next Generation Committee and others.

What we heard

We spoke to farmers, crofters, fishermen, land managers, foresters, teachers, environmentalists, care professionals and many more within rural communities. For each and every person, a just transition meant something slightly different depending upon their lives and aspirations.

However, seven common themes emerged. These are summarised in the boxes below, with additional insight provided in section 3 of the Technical Supporting Document if you would like to know more.

We would like to remind the reader that the views summarised below have been collected during discussions with stakeholders and are not the policy positions or views of the Scottish Government.

Link to Technical Supporting Document

Views from engagement

Education

Applies to all ages, from early years onwards. We must all be made aware of the part we play in achieving net zero. It is important that what is taught is appropriate for the locality. It needs to be available across a wide range of topics from land-based skills to cooking with seasonal food; from understanding rights and responsibilities to development of interpersonal and collaboration skills. People need to know about the indirect benefits. In particular, the benefits that can be gained for physical and mental health, a sense of wellbeing and of community.

Children must be positively engaged as early as possible to let them experience and understand our natural environment, and where food comes from first hand. This responsibility should fall to everyone from parents and teachers to those with first-hand experience such as farmers, advisors, and major food retailers. Children themselves can encourage their parents and friends to ‘do their bit’.

We heard how apprenticeships are seen as offering experiences that classroom-based study simply cannot provide. ‘Peer-to-peer’ learning is the most effective, particularly amongst farmers and land users. Support for this needs to be improved with access to remote learning, backed up with locally available practical teaching and a strong knowledge transfer and advice service. Careers advice should encourage people, especially the young, to take up environmental and rural based work.

Views from engagement

Local Focus

People who have knowledge and understand the locality need to be involved in the decision-making process from an early stage. We heard how national policy can limit flexibility as it does not take into account subtle variations between different localities. It is important to be clear on what the most effective action is for each location and implement ‘the right thing in the right place’. However, support to do this is needed to ensure due consideration of the views of the rest of the community.

Depopulation and changing demographics alongside the centralisation of services have led to concerns that there won’t be sufficient people in the rural areas to do what has to be done to reach net zero. We heard how a lack of skilled tradespeople, young people leaving for higher education, a shortage of affordable housing and the growth in the number of second homes are all challenges to maintaining viable communities in rural areas.

These issues hold back diversification and adaptation. People suggested there was a greater role for community councils in helping improve this situation.

Agriculture and other rural businesses should be valued as they are significant contributors to the viability of rural areas. Producing food locally, for local consumption, is considered deserving of greater attention and support. In addition to the environmental benefits, small producers will have increased market opportunities and consumers can access healthy produce at lower cost.

Views from engagement

Equity, Value and Respect

There is concern that a disproportionate share of profits and other benefits from natural resources leave the area where they are generated and that if they do stay, they are not fairly distributed within the community. It is felt that much of the burden of achieving net zero will fall to the more sparsely populated rural areas. The challenges of living in rural areas (like limited infrastructure, higher costs for essentials such as food and energy, and poor access to jobs), also constrain the ability to act and should be recognised.

There should be greater community input throughout the decision-making process to ensure that benefits are fairly distributed. To do this it is important to build capacity within communities and provide support where appropriate. We heard that community ownership is often seen to provide ‘work’ when in reality it can be under-resourced and heavily dependent upon a small number of volunteers sharing a heavy workload. It may not be a sustainable option, particularly for volunteers’ mental health and wellbeing.

Traditional practices that are good for the environment should be recognised. Rural and island communities take great pride in their ability to be self-sufficient and these skills could be expanded as part of the actions to get to net zero. There should also be recognition for the more pioneering landowners and managers who have already taken action.

A nuanced approach to equity and equality is needed. Actions which can support minority groupings are needed but care needs to be taken not to discriminate unintentionally. Remember: there will be people within the mainstream majorities who also face challenges and need support; do not treat women as ‘token farmers’ when they are there on merit; and do not simply look at gender and ethnicity but consider other areas such as cognitive diversity.

Views from engagement

Communication, Collaboration and Innovation

We heard that people need to understand the value of food and how it gets from the farm to their forks. They need to be aware of how interconnected rural activities are, and how farming and land use impacts and benefits the wider environment. Without this it will be harder to change behaviours or help people appreciate what public money is being provided for.

Effective communication is a must, to ensure the scale of the challenge ahead is fully understood. This should cover what needs to be done, what peoples’ roles are and how people can take appropriate action. It needs to be clear, open, far reaching and a continuous two-way process.

Collaboration is equally important, at all levels. There is a need to avoid politicising rural issues and identify the best outcomes and work together to achieve them. People need and want to be included in the planning and preparation of the journey to net zero. Young people in particular were very supportive of taking a collaborative approach to our climate and nature actions. They discussed how large land holdings can facilitate larger projects at scale, but by working together smaller holdings can do likewise.

We heard that achieving net zero will require creative and innovative approaches, the merging of many organisational ‘visions’ into one common purpose, and less complacency from everyone. The combined will of the people as it stands now is not sufficient for the task in hand. Policy needs to be flexible to reflect the diversity within Scotland. It was suggested that amending existing policies could be just as effective as developing new ones.

Setting short term objectives

Using this information, we have produced a set of shorter-term objectives that can guide and support our early approach to just transition. In this section you will see each objective, some summarised quotes taken from the engagement, and a selection of actions towards achieving the objective. We have also included case studies to showcase some of the excellent work already going on.

Please note we only highlight a few examples of the key actions; this is not an exhaustive list. We have taken this approach as the objectives are the focus of our consultation, not the actions. Once the objectives are agreed, further work on understanding and developing the actions needed to achieve them can be taken forward as we continue our just transition journey.

Objective

Education

We will work with Scotland’s land-based education, knowledge, and skills systems to help people learn, adapt and grow and deliver the changes needed to achieve a net zero Scotland, playing our part in ensuring people can live and work on our land for generations to come.

“Education not connecting young people to the outdoors lifestyle and no appetite in schools to deviate from intense

curriculum.”

“Training is not just about new skills – it’s also about new behaviours.”

“Peer-to-peer knowledge exchange is needed, as is retraining.”

“Ensure schools teach children how food is produced and how it gets to their plates.”

“More knowledge about, and confidence in, switching to regenerative farming.”

“Farm education to be outdoor based - hands on - not theory based.”

“Refine the education system to get young people engaged in land, rural life and politics as they are all linked.”

“Don’t forget the older generations; ensure suitable training for them.”

Question 6

Education is a priority area that needs to be addressed to begin a just transition for land use and agriculture. Do you:

Please give reasons for your answer.

• Strongly agree?
• Mostly agree?
• Mostly disagree?
• Strongly disagree?

Please give reasons for your answer.

Actions

Education

1 With a focus on attracting and equipping more people with skills and knowledge, we are acting in response to the 22 recommendations of the Land Based Learning Review. The Scottish Government accepted, or accepted in principle, all of the recommendations and has now published an implementation plan setting out the process and activities involved to meet these commitments.

2 In June 2025 we published a preliminary version of the Code of Practice for Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture. The code provides guidance for farmers and crofters and makes clear the expectation that all agricultural land should be managed in a way that – as a minimum – protects the environment, prevents environmental damage, and that where environmental damage occurs it is rectified as soon as possible.

3 We will continue to develop an Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation system (AKIS), including development of Continued Professional Development (CPD) within the agricultural sector, to help equip our farmers and crofters with the knowledge and skills they require to support our aims for just transition, efficiency, nature and climate change.

4 We are providing funding of over £600,000 which will help women and young people develop new agricultural skills and further their careers within the farming sector. This funding helps to create equality of opportunity and prosperity and supports business innovation. The Next Generation and Women in Agriculture Practical Training Funds will provide successful applicants with support to help pay for practical training courses relevant to farming and crofting.

5 We will continue to implement the relevant actions outlined in Scotland’s Forestry Strategy Implementation Plan and support delivery of the forestry sector’s Industry Leadership Group’s Skills Action Plan. This Action Plan looks to support and attract talent, encourage new entrants, develop the workforce and support wider outdoor learning networks.

6 We are leading a new, national approach to skills planning, working closely with partners to strengthen regional approaches and bring employers, colleges, universities, and other partners together to ensure the system is responsive to regional and national skills needs and priorities. The new approach will develop a better understanding of skills needs at national and regional levels, and how we can address them, particularly where solutions lie within the education and skills system.

Case Study

The Pre-apprenticeship Programme

Preparing young people for employment in agriculture and the wider rural sector

Over the long-term (2025 to 2032), Skills Development Scotland labour data forecasts that approximately 21,000 people will be needed to replace workers leaving the labour market in the agriculture sector. This is mainly due to half of all agricultural workers being currently aged 50 years or over. It is also a sector that includes a large number of small businesses. For many of small businesses, the costs and administrative workload to provide training can often be a barrier to taking on new employees or apprentices.

The Land-based Pre-apprenticeship is an ideal pathway for progression within the wider rural sector (including farming, horticulture, food production, forestry, game and wildlife, land-based engineering, conservation and landscaping). It allows new entrants to earn and learn in the workplace whilst also gaining a vocational qualification (SCQF4). Accredited by the Scottish Rural College (SRUC), the programme is currently funded by Scottish Government and administered by Skills Development Scotland.

Working in partnership with Ringlink Scotland, a large business co-operative, SRUC provide the facilities for a residential induction and deliver the Certificate of Work Readiness (CWR) and additional training units. Ringlink Scotland provide the day-to-day management of the programme, recruit and support candidates along with the mentor businesses, and provide certified training for the trainees.

Following the upfront induction, successful pre-apprentices start their individual placements with an approved mentor business for 26 weeks. The work placement is fully paid, based on 40 hrs per week.

The ultimate aim of the Land-based Pre-apprenticeship Programme is to help prepare young people for employment in agriculture and the wider rural sector. The programme provides practical experience, training and knowledge allowing the candidates to make informed decisions as to how they would like their career to progress.

Objective

Local focus

We will continue to work towards ensuring Scotland’s land benefits those who live and work on it, seeking opportunities for everyone in our diverse rural communities to flourish, and to feel and be part of Scotland’s future.

“Thriving farming and forestry benefits the local economy and communities; this seems to be overlooked.”

“Better access and connection to the land will have mental health benefits for local people.”

“Revenue funding is needed alongside capital funding to support community ownerships and management in its early years.”

“Decision making is often too far removed from the locality, which results in poor decisions. Need people who know the landscape to make the decisions.”

“A thriving farming sector benefits the community in many ways - farmers are part of the community.”

“Make exceptions for rural designated areas when national policy is developed, to take into account the unique challenges faced in smaller geographic communities.”

“We need paid professionals within the community to drive us forward; can’t just rely on spare time / volunteering.”

“Recognise every community is different.”

Question 7

Local focus is a priority area that needs to be addressed to begin a just transition for land use and agriculture. Do you:

• Strongly agree?
• Mostly agree?
• Mostly disagree?
• Strongly disagree?

Please give reasons for your answer.

Actions

Local Focus

1 Through the Agricultural Reform Programme, we will support and work with farmers, crofters and land managers to meet more of our own food needs sustainably and to farm and croft with nature. By doing so, Scotland will have a support framework that delivers high quality food production, climate mitigation and adaptation, and nature restoration, whilst keeping people living and working on the land.

2 We will work with our partners from across the Scottish public sector to attract greater responsible private investment into high-integrity natural capital projects, as outlined in our Natural Capital Market Framework.

3 We will continue to work with the forestry sector to promote the principles set out in the Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement and improve the opportunities for communities to be involved with the development of woodland creation proposals and management plans. We will also seek to increase forestry’s contribution to the delivery of local community benefits and community wealth building through our support for the Community Woodlands Association and the Natural Capital Community Partnerships project.

4 Through the National Development Plan for Crofting and the Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill, we will support the sustainability of crofting, make crofting regulation less onerous for active crofters and the Crofting Commission, and allow crofters a greater say in how croft land is used to help innovate, diversify and adapt to help meet future climate and environmental challenges.

5 We will support rural communities to flourish through initiatives such as Community Led Local Development, the Empowering Communities Programme, the Community Ownership Support Service and Participatory Budgeting. These initiatives use the power of place-based approaches to enable communities to improve their quality of life and support wellbeing.

6 We will progress the Land Reform Bill which will further improve transparency of land ownership, help ensure large scale land holdings deliver in the public interest and empower communities by providing more opportunities to own land and have more say in how land in their area is used.

Case Study

Applecross Community Land Use Plan

Being open and transparent about local assets and about decision-making processes and plans

The Applecross peninsula is one of the most remote areas on the Scottish mainland. Twenty crofting township communities live dispersed over a large estate owned by a single owner, the Applecross Trust. In the past, the community and the Applecross Trust did not have a clear route for communications where everyone’s views could be heard, leading to misconceptions and misunderstandings between the key players. Ground conditions, difficulties getting services and infrastructure in, and the amount of land under crofting tenure made it difficult to select suitable housing sites. In addition, due to the vast geographical area being covered, the ‘place’ statements included in the Local Development Plan were extremely broad. Applecross therefore lacked a democratic process for selecting housing sites in a collaborative way.

The recently established Applecross Community Forum has brought together key stakeholders to ‘improve both local responsiveness and collaborative problem solving’. Members of the forum include the major landowners, community organisations, Highland Small Communities Housing Trust developers, the local authority, and a range of other statutory bodies.

The forum has provided the central discussion group needed to bring the key parties together in a neutral and independently chaired space. Its remit is to ‘promote affordable development for land and housing, employment and community uses for local residents and those wishing to make a long-term contribution to the Applecross community’.

The Applecross case study reflects a point in time in an ongoing process. The ultimate success will come when the houses needed are built, but several of the lessons so far could be applied in other parts of rural Scotland. These include:

• A fine-grained local housing survey to prove local housings needs.
• A neutral forum set up to improve communication between all parties.
• Production of a Community Land Use Plan, and its adoption by Highland Council as a Material Planning Consideration, is a strong example of a Local Place Plan approach.
• Ability to attract funding and other in-kind help to support a resource-intensive process.
• The tiny village of Camusteel, Applecross.

Objective

Collaboration and Innovation

We will support and work with our land-based sectors and rural communities to act collaboratively and find innovative solutions to the issues they face.

“The question of net zero comes back to what people value and what they are willing to pay / give up to improve the value of nature.”

“We should be less risk adverse. Asking people to do challenging things involves greater risk - Government should be risk aware and carry some of that risk too.”

“Policies must be revisited and adapted if not working.”

“Policy needs to be more joined up and have local knowledge and experience informing it.”

“Individual organisations’ visions need to be brought together.”

“Buying local - as a concept, this is possible, but it requires people to have the drive and skills to make it work. Takes effort!”

“The answer to our problems is basically a reduction in everything we consume. We must all use less!”

“Lack of joined up cross party political leadership on net zero. Why can’t Net zero become less politicised like Covid.”

Question 8

Collaboration and innovation are priority areas that needs to be addressed to begin a just transition for land use and agriculture. Do you:

• Strongly agree?
• Mostly agree?
• Mostly disagree?
• Strongly disagree?

Please give reasons for your answer.

Actions

Collaboration and Innovation

1 Through the Carbon Neutral Islands project, we will continue to support six Scottish Islands and collaborate with other islands to help them plan for their own net zero journeys.

2 We will work with stakeholders to continue the development and delivery of Tier 3 of the future agriculture support programme. This is a competitive, criteria dependent range of payments for targeted actions and undertakings that support nature restoration, innovation and supply chains.

3 We will continue the Small Producers Pilot Fund which offers assistance to small producers and crofters to establish more localised supply chains and cut food miles. This includes support for: access to abattoirs; training and skills development; promotion of locally produced food; market research; improved collaboration; advice and mentoring; and the sharing of information.

4 We laid the proposed national Good Food Nation Plan before Parliament on 27 June and work is well underway to establish the Scottish Food Commission.

5 We will support the delivery of the “Roots for Further Growth” strategy. This identifies and pursues opportunities to increase the use of wood products in construction, increase sustainable fibre recovery from harvesting operations, and promotes the use of new wood-based products that can support the decarbonisation of other industries. We will also work with the forestry sector to identify actions to decarbonise, including the trialling of electric HGVs.

6 We will conduct a review of the community rights to buy, which give communities more options than ever before to take ownership of land and assets, reporting in December 2025.

Case Study

Net Zero Arran

Facilitating collaboration

Since its launch over four years ago, Net Zero Arran has sought to quantify the agricultural carbon footprint of the isle of Arran and facilitate collaboration to make meaningful improvements, both in respect of increasing agricultural output and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

The group, now supported through the Scottish Farm Advisory Service (FAS) and its FAS Connect programme, has grown from its original twelve members to over thirty and includes sectors and businesses that are representative of the larger Scottish industry. The group have explored topics from the benefits of optimising livestock health and performance and opportunities in renewables, to the importance of soil management and tackling conflicts in conservation.

Building on the growing interest, members hope that they can play their part in normalising carbon auditing as a tool to promote sustainable farming practices, profitability and maintain farming as a key component of Scotland’s rural landscape.

Objective

Equity, Value and Respect

We will work to reduce rural poverty and inequalities, as well as improve everyone’s overall health and wellbeing.

“Energy being produced using natural resources in the region but profit is not being distributed fairly.”

“Net zero will never be achieved unless we sort out the wider social issues we face. Looking at things from just this national ambition [land use change] misses the point.”

“Rural areas can become self-sufficient but how is this equitable with those in cities?”

“Good food is not cheap food.”

“Out of date infrastructure limits community capacity.”

“Too often benefits are assumed to have to be financial ones; other benefits are important.”

“Do not underestimate the value working on the land brings to mental health and wellbeing. Must ensure every opportunity is taken to make this possible via policy development.”

“Can’t regenerate communities when housing stock is unavailable and unaffordable.”

Question 9

Equity, value and respect are priority areas that needs to be addressed to begin a just transition for land use and agriculture. Do you:

• Strongly agree?
• Mostly agree?
• Mostly disagree?
• Strongly disagree?

Please give reasons for your answer.

Actions

Equity, Value and Respect

1 We will publish a Rural Delivery Plan, setting out the actions that government is taking which impact rural communities. This is a key opportunity to take a fresh look at how we can work together to bring about change and address the issues we face in rural Scotland.

2 We will continue to work across the Scottish Government and with key mental health stakeholders such as RSABI, Samaritans, and the National Rural Mental Health Forum, to help support mental health and wellbeing and inclusion whilst advancing equality, recognising the unique issues experienced in rural areas.

3 We will continue to deliver the actions in the Rural and Islands Housing Action Plan to support our commitment of delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, of which at least 10% will be in rural and island areas, We will make sure local authorities have the tools available to make the best use of existing homes, including bringing empty homes back into use and addressing high numbers of second homes and short-term lets. This will help retain and attract people to these communities.

4 We will continue to deliver on our Fair Work ambitions around the Wellbeing Economy. This includes building on actions such as the new requirement for recipients of public sector and eligible agriculture grants to pay at least the real Living Wage.

5 In response to the challenge of depopulation, an issue faced in some parts of Scotland, we will continue to deliver our Addressing Depopulation Action Plan. This includes a new programme of work in response to demographic changes and some of the drivers of population decline, including access to public services, housing, transport and connectivity in affected communities.

6 To further support the next generation of rural workers, we will continue to work with internal and external stakeholders through initiatives such as the Farming Opportunities for New Entrants group. These initiatives look to provide the next generation of aspiring farmers and crofters with opportunities and support to develop their skills and careers in farming or crofting and help existing farmers as part of their exit strategy to take a gradual or complete step back from farming and crofting.

Case Study

Glengarry Community Woodlands

Supporting rural communities

Glengarry Community Woodlands (GCW) was formed in 2016 to purchase 31 hectares of woodland on the edge of the village of Invergarry. Since then, the organisation has acquired additional land and is now involved in numerous community development projects, including affordable housing, woodland crofts and the sustainable management of their woodland resources.

The initial woodland was bought through a community asset transfer from the Forestry Commission via the National Forest Land Scheme. More recently, with support from the Rural and Island Communities Ideas into Action Fund, part of the Scottish Government’s Community Led Local Development commitment, the group set up a community sawmill.

The sawmill has been instrumental in helping GCW set up an eco-tourism social enterprise, which will offer over-night accommodation in off-grid cabins that have been built using community-owned timber, milled at the sawmill. This helped to provide additional employment in the community during the project, and it is hoped that the revenue generated by Glengarry Forest Cabins will be used for delivery of the organisation’s wider charitable aims.

The aspiration is to create a truly sustainable organisation which is an exemplar of environmental and financial sustainability, with a business focus, and whose activities deliver multiple outcomes that address local issues. One of these issues is access to housing. GCW recently purchased 47 hectares of land at Ardochy, Glengarry, working with partners to develop a project to build affordable housing and establish new woodland crofts. GCW hopes that this will not only tackle the housing shortage and help with rural re-population but also bring wider environmental and economic benefits that can come with managing woodlands at a smaller, local scale.

“Like a lot of rural communities, especially in the Highlands, access to affordable housing is a huge issue. It’s what is probably the most important issue in the long-term sustainability of communities like this.”

- Tom Cooper, Development Officer

Objective

Communication

We will work to support land use and agriculture in Scotland by making sure that any form of messaging or information we provide is clear, joined up and aimed at taking all of Scotland in the same direction.

“Misinformation is already causing divides across rural communities; people need the truth.”

“Provide better and understandable information so that people can have better discussions.”

“Net zero ambitions mean little to the person in the street; where is the information and national discussion.”

“Messages around climate change are still inconsistent and create uncertainty.”

“Clear messaging from SG across all land use areas – tell people what they need to do, why they need to do it and how it will help.”

“Farmers need to know what will be asked of them in ten years’ time so that we have stability and the confidence to make changes.”

“Need to consider how you reach young people as they are the focus for future rural life. Need to use the best communication channels possible.”

Question 10

Communication is a priority area that needs to be addressed to begin a just transition for land use and agriculture. Do you:

• Strongly agree?
• Mostly agree?
• Mostly disagree?
• Strongly disagree?

Please give reasons for your answer.

Actions

Communication

1 We will build on initiatives such as the Integrating Trees Network, The Biodiversity & Climate Change Network, The Farm Advisory Service, The Monitor Farms Programme and the Scottish Rural Network, to increase reach and accessibility of the information they provide.

2 Scotland’s 4th Land Use Strategy will have a key part to play in setting our strategic direction regarding the role of integrated land use to meet the challenges we collectively face and is due for publication by the end of March 2026.

3 We are committed to working with industry bodies to ensure we are reaching the right people in the right way, as illustrated by the user research carried out as part of the development of the Agriculture Reform Programme (ARP).

4 We will work with colleagues to communicate the need for climate change action and the valuable role that rural land users, land managers and farmers play in that process more widely.

5 We will continue to support opportunities for more people from rural communities, businesses and the wider public to be involved in policy developments that affect them. For example, through the Scottish Rural and Islands Parliament.

6 Successful communication requires both a clear message and the infrastructure to get that message to its audience. We will continue to deliver successful digital infrastructure programmes, such as the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband (DSSB), Reaching 100% (R100) and Scottish 4G Infill (S4GI) initiatives, to drive improved connectivity into our most rural communities.

Case Study

The Integrating Trees Network

Good communication and engagement in action.

The Integrating Trees Network (ITN) is a farmer-led initiative, supported by the Scottish Government and Scottish Forestry. It is made up of farmers and crofters across Scotland who host events and provide an informative and supportive network for other farmers and crofters, encouraging more trees to be planted in ‘the right place, for the right reason’.

The initiative facilitates knowledge sharing amongst these land users and technical experts, highlighting the benefits of tree integration for agricultural businesses, climate resilience, and biodiversity conservation. Central to the ITN’s approach is effective communication, emphasising peer-to-peer engagement to inspire behavioural change. The initiative collaborates with various organisations within the agriculture, land management, and environmental sectors, expanding its reach and impact.

By showcasing success stories and facilitating dialogue between farmers and policymakers, the ITN influences policy development and promotes best practices in land management.

Recognising the success of this initiative, the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management awarded it their Best Practice Award for Knowledge Sharing in July 2024.

Summary of Plan Objectives

Education

We will work with Scotland’s land-based education, knowledge, and skills systems to help people learn, adapt and grow and deliver the changes needed to achieve a net zero Scotland, playing our part in ensuring people can live and work on our land for generations to come.

Local Focus

We will continue to work towards ensuring Scotland’s land benefits those who live and work on it, seeking opportunities for everyone in our diverse rural communities to flourish, and to feel and be part of Scotland’s future.

Collaboration and Innovation

We will support and work with our land-based sectors and rural communities to act collaboratively and find innovative solutions to the issues they face.

Equity, Value and Respect

We will work to reduce rural poverty and inequalities, as well as improve everyone’s overall health and wellbeing.

Communication

We will work to support land use and agriculture in Scotland by making sure that any form of messaging or information we provide is clear, joined up and aimed at taking all of Scotland in the same direction.

Question 11

Are there other short-term objectives that should be considered in order to begin a just transition in land use and agriculture?

• Yes
• No

If yes, please provide additional information.