Highland and Islands Councils in partnership with RSPB fund study to look at impacts of Brexit on Agriculture

The Highland Council, Argyll and Bute, Shetland, Orkney and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, in partnership with RSPB Scotland, have commissioned Andrew Moxey (Pareto Consulting ) and Steven Thomson (SRUC) to investigate  the implications of Brexit on  agriculture, crofting and land use  in the Highlands and Islands. 

The study will build on work already undertaken in Scotland and will be used  to  inform future policy development. 

This predominately desk based study aims to: 

  - Establish the present state of the agriculture, crofting and related land use in the Highlands and Islands
 -  Project the likely social, environmental and economic impacts of Brexit under different scenarios and
 -  Make recommendations for policy and support measures in moving forward.
 
Councillor Allan Henderson, Chair of The Highland Council’s Environment Development and Infrastructure Committee said: “Leaving the EU will pose real challenges  for farming, land management and the environment  in the Highlands and Islands and we need to understand the potential impacts. 

“Considerable uncertainties around Brexit remain but this study will be extremely useful in providing baseline information, highlighting likely challenges and opportunities and informing possible future policy responses to respond to these.”  

The study is due to be completed February 2018, the results of which will be shared widely.