Meeting of the Parliament 04 March 2025
No. As I said to Mr Carson in a meeting of the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee, I do not agree with that, because we have co-designed with the crofting community and the rest of the farming community. They were part of the steering group that delivered the SSI that we are considering today.
The SSI marks a significant point in our progress towards becoming a world leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture, and it is right that we must expect more from those who are in receipt of public funds and support on the journey. A failure to bring the regulations into force would risk undermining that progress and the efforts and work of many of our farmers and crofters, who are already undertaking the improvements that we are asking for.
I reassure members that we are committed to continuing to support our farmers and crofters so that they continue to deliver for sustainable food production, nature and climate—and to ensure our thriving rural communities.