Call to Register Interest - Agricultural Reform Programme (ARP)

With changes to agricultural support coming into effect from 2025, including the introduction of new conditions targeted towards biodiversity gain and low carbon approach, Scottish Government are calling on the agriculture sector for help in shaping the details of future support and how it is delivered.

ScotGov are seeking participants to take part in interviews, surveys, workshops (online & in-person), focus groups, testing and trials which will be open to all.  Initial topics are to include:

• Changes to 2025 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS)

• Whole Farm Plan

• Regions

• Measures

• Incentivising and empowering change and

• Skills, information and training

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This is open to all and the first opportunities to participate will run until the end of this year focusing on changes coming into effect from 2025.

Participating volunteers will be reimbursed by ScotGov with payment levels depending on the time and input required.

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To register your interest to take part complete the volunteer form available from the Rural Payments website here.

This link takes participants to a questionnaire which asks for some initial information including name, contact details, BRN number (if have one) and preferences for the type of participation activities preferred. It is estimated that the form takes 10-15 minutes to complete and submitting the form does not commit you to taking part in any of the research activities that are offered.

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ScotGov plan to share information about further topics and activities in the coming months.

More information on the changes to agricultural support can be found in the Agricultural Reform Route Map which has been updated to include information about getting involved in designing the new agricultural support framework.

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SOPA Member Call to Action: Articulating a Coherent Organic Response

It is vitally important that the views of the organic sector are fed into this call from ScotGov for input on future agricultural support and SOPA will be doing so on behalf of our Members.  However, we also encourage Members to take part themselves.

It is important that we articulate a co-ordinated and coherent message for organics in our responses, and we encourage SOPA Members to discuss your views with our Member Services Policy Lead, Jo Barron.  Likewise, we welcome Member input on the various topics to help shape the feedback we return to ensure it is representative across the organic sector.  You can do so by emailing jo.barron@SOPA.org.uk.