Crop Production in the East of Scotland - SASA

The Future6. THE FUTURE: POLICIES FOR THE USEOF ARABLE LAND IN SCOTLANDOVER THE NEXT 50 YEARS• For the best land, the financial marginsfor specialist crops such as carrots aregood• Nevertheless, unlike many othercountries in Europe, the citizen cannotsee her next meal in the fields near herhome, and tends to have little interest inwhere her food supplies originate; alarge proportion of the diet is imported• (Not mentioned above, but crucial)Scotland has one of the poorest diets,and nearly the worst health record,amongst developed countriesVirus-free Narcissus near Brechin, AngusThe information in this booklet can besummarised as follows:• Scotland has a relatively small butrobust area of arable land of very highpotential yield for adapted crops• This area is currently devotedpredominantly to crops subsidised underthe Common Agricultural Policy, nowAgenda 2000, of the European Union;the products are mainly destined forlivestock and alcoholic beverageproduction• Scotland has a reputation for very highquality products for direct humanconsumption, principally soft fruit andpotatoes (via the seed potato industry)Drivers for Change include:• Climate change• Agenda 2000• Low farm incomes; world prices;exchange rates• Need for environmental goods• Customer perceptions: health, foodsafety, positive interest in eating• Unrelenting scientific progress, includingGM technology• The Organic movement• Vegetarianism• Direct marketing by farmers• DevolutionPolicies for Agriculture in Scotland might,with benefit, be integrated with Policies forthe Environment, including rural47