NFU Scotland issued a clear challenge to ministers as it published its 2026 manifesto, warning that the next parliamentary term will be critical to the future of Scotland’s agriculture and rural communities.
The document was launched today by Johnny Hall, deputy chief executive and head of policy, at the union’s annual general meeting and general meeting in Glasgow, which drew hundreds of members to the two-day event.
The conference puts agricultural policy firmly in the spotlight, with speeches from Prime Minister John Swinney, MSPs, UK Government Minister Kirsty McNeil MP and Baroness Minette Batters.
Mr Hall told delegates that farmers and crop traders remained at the heart of Scotland’s economy, landscape and food security.
“Scotland’s farmers and crop traders are the backbone of our rural economy, national identity and food security,” he said.
He warned that big changes were in store, arguing that the government’s decisions over the next 10 years would determine whether Scotland’s production capacity could be maintained or was at risk of long-term decline.
“The next Scottish Government faces a critical choice: invest in food producers or risk irreversible loss of production capacity, local jobs and environmental impacts,” he said.
NFU Scotland said the manifesto was based on a wide range of policy strategies and reflected priorities across all sectors, from upland livestock and island crops to dairy, arable farming, horticulture and mixed enterprise.
The union highlighted that its proposals are designed to support Scotland’s wider objectives around economic growth, food security, climate targets and environmental management.
Key demands include secure, multi-year funding for agriculture through a ring budget and direct support for active agriculture and crop businesses.
The document also calls for capital investment to strengthen resilience, improve infrastructure and support new entrants to the industry.
Another key theme is the transition to a new agricultural support system, with NFU Scotland calling for co-designed policies, gradual changes and simplified and proportionate compliance.
Food security and supply chain equity are also key features, including the requirement for national production targets, greater use of Scottish produce in public procurement and increased protection for farmers working with processors and retailers.
The association is also seeking a balanced approach to climate and nature policy, putting food production at the heart of land-use decisions, alongside supporting low-carbon technologies and protecting prime agricultural land.
Animal and plant health, innovation and skills development are highlighted as priorities, with proposals to tackle veterinary shortages, promote applied research and invest in rural areas.
Other demands include a seasonal work system suitable for Scotland, streamlined regulation, proportionate testing and protection of Scottish standards in future trade deals.
NFU Scotland chairman Andrew Connon said the choice made by the next Scottish Parliament would be decisive for the future of the sector.
“The next Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament have a clear choice: provide Scotland’s food producers with the funding, policy and support they need, or risk irreversible loss of production capacity, local jobs and environmental progress,” he said.
He described the manifesto as a “practical and actionable roadmap for action”, adding: “Now is the time to take action to ensure Scottish agriculture thrives for generations to come.”
NFU Scotland said the document is intended as a blueprint for partnership with government and underpins its engagement with ministers in the coming months, as the union continues to push for agriculture and crops to remain at the heart of Scotland’s national priorities.
