Preparing the Evidence Base for Post-Brexit agriculture in Scotland – case studies on alternative payments

In: Lampkin , N , Shrestha , S , Sellars , A , Baldock , D , Smith , J , Mullender , S , Keenleyside , C , Pearce , B & Watson , CA 2021 , Preparing the Evidence Base for Post-Brexit agriculture in Scotland – case studies on alternative payments . Research Report No. 1201 , NatureScot .

Abstract

Leaving the European Union will present significant challenges to the farming industry, and creative change is required for a new agricultural policy after the transition period. Many farms rely on public support and there is a need to review possible solutions that will replace and improve on the Common Agricultural Policy, for both the industry and wider society. In particular, could the resources currently spent on CAP basic and coupled payments be redirected to pay for the delivery of public environmental goods? This study aims to contribute to preparing the evidence for post-Brexit agricultural and environmental support in this context. The results are intended to provide a basis for discussion and an illustration of how various proposals for supporting agriculture and the environment after exiting the EU could be applied. The objectives of this study are to:  illustrate how the concept of public money for public goods could be realised across a range of farm types in Scotland;  using case studies, make a comparison of current agricultural support with alternative proposals for rewarding farmers for the delivery of environmental public goods;  assess the impact on farm income of the various proposals compared with current pillar 1 and pillar 2 payments on the selected farms; and  discuss the feasibility