We need to grow a brighter future for nature-friendly farming

Last month, we started our countdown to the next Scottish election in May 2026 and set out five ways the next Scottish Government can help nature. Whichever political party – or parties – win power and form a government, the decisions they make over their five years in office will be critical for wildlife.  

One of the most important ways the next Scottish Government can help nature is to invest in nature-friendly farming. This means using more of the public funds spent on farming to support those farmers and crofters taking action for nature and climate on the land they manage.

The way in which Scotland’s farmers and crofters manage their land and grow food for us really matters for nature and our climate. In past decades, in a push to increase yields and food production, farming methods were introduced that we now understand are harmful for nature. Government funding encouraged this and production was prioritised at all costs.

Today, we know that the best way to sustain food production is to support the kind of farming that is positive for nature and our climate. Without nature, and a climate suitable to grow crops and rear livestock, farming itself is at risk.

Nature friendly farming isn’t a one size fits all. Practising organic farming methods, managing existing wildlife habitats, improving soils or creating new, nature-rich habitat on their farms are all good examples of what it can mean. Often, it is some or all of these in combination. Evidence shows nature-friendly farming is good for farming itself, good for nature and, ultimately, good for all of us.

If nature-friendly farming is such a good thing we might expect every farmer and crofter to be doing it. This isn’t yet the case though. Converting to organic farming, creating and managing wildlife habitat or managing land and soils to reduce greenhouse gas emissions often has costs involved and requires specific knowledge. For nature-friendly farming to become the way all farmers and crofters operate in future, there needs to be a concerted effort to support a process of change.

Government has a role to play in encouraging and supporting the changes needed. Much hinges on how it spends its £650 million farm budget. Currently, just 5% of this money is spent directly on helping farmers adopt nature-friendly farming practices. The majority remains locked up in a form of payments to farmers that belongs to a different era. While some baby steps are being taken to change this, there remains a long way to go.

If the next Scottish Government were to spend at least 25% of the farm budget on helping farmers and crofters transition to nature-friendly farming – and increase this to 75% over a five year period – real progress could be made.  

With a much larger share of farm funding, the area of farmland habitats managed through the Agri-Environment-Climate Scheme could be tripled, whilst the area of land farmed organically could double.

Pollinating insects, wildflowers and birds such as Lapwings and Corncrakes would reap the benefits. The area of agro-forestry and woodlands on farms and crofts could increase, providing new sources of income, shelter for livestock, and homes for wildlife, as well as storing carbon.

Funding could help farmers to collaborate across farmed landscapes to achieve results such as reduced water pollution and flood risk, less soil erosion and more and connected wildlife habitats. All of this could be aided by boosting the information, training and advice available to farmers and crofters about nature-friendly farming methods.

The process of change must start now. In the run-up to the Scottish election in May 2026, join us, and call on party leaders to commit to spending at least 25% of farm funding on nature-friendly farming immediately, and to increase this over time.