Committee hears from experts on the future of Scottish agriculture

28 January 2019

The Scottish Affairs Committee travel to Oatridge Campus of Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) in West Lothian to take evidence from agriculture experts and hear the views of agriculture students.

Purpose of the session

The inquiry is focused on the future of Scottish agriculture after Brexit, which the Committee launched at a farm near Edinburgh, and recently took evidence on how the Agriculture Bill applies to Scotland.

To continue its inquiry, the Committee will hear from key stakeholders in Scotland's agricultural industry such as NFU Scotland and the Scottish crofting federation and from academics. The Committee will focus on the unique characteristics of Scottish agriculture and how its needs can be met after the UK leaves the EU. The Committee will ask witnesses to consider the implications of future immigration policy for the agricultural workforce and funding settlements for Scottish agriculture.

The Committee will also turn to those who are the future of Scottish agriculture - students at SRUC Oatridge – to ask how they feel Brexit will impact farming and crofting in Scotland, and what their hopes are for the future.

Witnesses

Monday 28 January 2019, SRUC Oatridge Campus

At 9.30am - Agricultural stakeholders

Jonnie Hall, Director of Policy, NFU Scotland
Eleanor Kay, Agricultural Policy Adviser, Scottish Land & Estates
Russell Smith, Chair, Scottish Crofting Federation
Kate Rowell, Chair, Quality Meat Scotland

At 10.30am - Agricultural experts

Professor Michael Keating, Professor of Politics, University of Aberdeen & Centre on Constitutional Change
Dr Ann Bruce, Senior Lecturer, University of Edinburgh
Steven Thomson, Senior Agricultural Economist, Scotland's Rural College
Paul Flanagan, Director for Scotland, AHDB

Further information

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