Funding Farming to Help Tackle Climate Change
More than £7 million has been awarded to 517 rural businesses in 2023 from the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS).
Overall, £27m will be paid over the lifetime of the contracts to applicants.
The Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) was launched in 2015. The scheme helps to promote land management practices which protect and enhance Scotland’s natural heritage, improve water quality, manage flood risk and mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Farmers can now apply for the 2024/25 AECS funding round, with an expanded range of options to support biodiversity and climate friendly farming and land management activities.
More than £4 million will also be made available to fund slurry storage and irrigation lagoons in order to improve water quality in rural areas. This will be the final year that support will be available for slurry storage.
Farmers and land managers can now apply for larger funding grants with an additional uplift available to those based in island communities.
Support for our agricultural sector is so important, particularly in areas like Angus.
GRAEME
This Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that climate action and safeguarding the future of sustainable agriculture are complementary processes.
I am very pleased that so many farmers have been supported to make critical adaptations through this scheme.
This is part of a range of agriculture support offered in Scotland – the most generous package in the UK.
AECS remains a key part of support to farmers, crofters, and land managers in delivering nature restoration and addressing the twin challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.
RURAL AFFAIRS SECRETARY MAIRI GOUGEON
This year all eligible applications to AECS were approved which is a record approval rate. This shows that despite significant financial pressures, farmers and land managers still recognise the very real need to mitigate against both nature loss and climate change.
I would strongly encourage farmers and crofters to apply for the expanded range of options that the scheme now supports. This approach will give farmers and land managers greater flexibility when it comes to helping improve our landscape to mitigate against nature loss.
Scotland’s farmers and crofters play a vital role in tackling the nature-climate crisis. By successfully using their knowledge and skills to farm in a nature-friendly way, they ensure that their businesses are sustainable for the future, both environmentally and economically.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF NATURESCOT, FRANCESCA OSOWSKA
AECS funding is an important investment in sustainable farming in Scotland, with about 20% of our land being managed for nature and climate benefits under the scheme.
Supporting farmers and crofters to farm with nature has both local and global impacts, including supporting wildlife, healthy soils and clean water while helping Scotland meet national and international targets to reduce biodiversity loss and tackle climate change.
Background
Some examples of the activities that AECS supports include:
Funding for the slurry storage and irrigation lagoon options has been underpinned by the Agricultural Transformation Fund (ATF).
