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SAC's Climate Change Challenge For Scottish Farmers

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SAC is looking for three farmers willing to take on the challenge of climate change. The Scottish Government is funding a three-year project to demonstrate how farming can play its part in climate change mitigation measures. It is part of the Farming for a Better Climate Initiative funded through the Veterinary and Advisory Services (VAS) Programme and worth over £300,000.

The three new Climate Change Focus Farms will offer the opportunity to see cost-effective climate change mitigation measures implemented and demonstrated on “real life” farms.  It is proposed that there will be one representing the dairy sector (eg Ayrshire / Dumfries and Galloway / Lanarkshire area), one upland livestock or hill (eg Perthshire / Stirlingshire / Highlands areas) and the third an arable unit (eg Lothians / Angus / Moray).  These volunteer farms would be selected through an open recruitment process involving the SAC project team and the Scottish Government.

Once up and running the schemes will be facilitated by SAC staff drawn from Environment and Design, Select Services and Farm Business Services Groups.  The project will be led by Graham Kerr and managed by Dr.  Elaine Booth.

The initiative follows other developments, including the Farming for a Better Climate (FBC) website which went live following a Cabinet Secretary statement on 21st September.  The website includes information on climate change and carbon audits with case studies and practical guides illustrating how mitigation measures can reduce emissions and save money.

It also has details of a series of awareness raising meetings organised separately for consultants, advisers and farmers.  They will outline the importance of climate change to farming in Scotland and explore the steps that Scottish agriculture can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while reducing costs and developing business opportunities.

Advisors and Consultants meetings:

  • Tuesday 13 October - Lanark
  • Wendesday 14 October - St Boswells
  • Monday 26 October - Perth
  • Tuesday 27 October - Thainstone, Inverurie

Farmers and Landowners meetings:

  • Tuesday 3 November - Dumfries
  • Wednesday 4 November - St Boswells
  • Monday 16 November - Lanark
  • Tuesday 17 November - Perth
  • Monday 23 November - Thainstone, Inverurie
  • Tuesday 24 November - Inverness

NRoSO and BASIS points will be available. 

For further details, please see the Farming for a Better Climate website or contact Dr Elaine Booth or Carole Christian. 

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Contact

Dr Elaine Booth
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC Environmental, Ferguson Building, Craibstone Estate,
Aberdeen
AB21 9YA
TelWork 01224 711079
Fax 01224 711293

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