Supporting Scotland's transition - Land use and agriculture - consultation

9th August 2025

Published on 6 August 2025, this consultation seeks views on a draft Land Use and Agriculture Just Transition Plan (LAJTP).

The LAJTP will guide how Scotland moves its land-based sectors—principally agriculture, forestry, peatland restoration and related rural industries—towards net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in an equitable way.

1. Purpose and Scope
Sets out Scotland's ambition to achieve net-zero by 2045, recognizing that land use and agriculture must both reduce emissions and enhance carbon removals.

Frames a "just transition" approach, ensuring farmers, crofters, land managers, and rural communities share fairly in costs, benefits and opportunities.

Invites feedback on eight thematic chapters covering policy measures, funding, governance, skills and community engagement.

2. Key Thematic Chapters
Emissions Reduction

Proposals to decarbonize farming practices: improved nutrient management, precision agriculture, and low-carbon livestock systems.

Targets for methane and nitrous oxide reductions and support for on-farm investment.

Carbon Sequestration

Expansion of tree planting across farms, woodlands and agroforestry systems.

Peatland restoration ambitions to rewet at least 250,000 hectares by 2045.

Land Reform and Access

Strengthening community right-to-buy measures and encouraging diversified land ownership models.

Measures to improve transparency of land holdings.

Just Transition Outcomes

Defines six outcomes—income security, skills, supply chain resilience, rural services, community empowerment and environmental stewardship—to measure "justness."

Funding and Finance

Outlines phasing out of EU's CAP payments by 2027 and replacing with schemes rewarding environmental public goods.

Proposes a mix of grants, low-interest loans and innovative green finance.

Skills and Workforce Development

Training programmes for precision agriculture, forestry management, peatland restoration and new low-carbon technologies.

Collaboration with colleges and industry bodies to reskill and upskill rural workers.

Research, Innovation and Knowledge Exchange

Strengthening links between research institutions and on-farm trials.

Funding for demonstration projects on regenerative agriculture, bioenergy crops and novel carbon capture techniques.

Governance and Delivery

Establishment of a Land Use and Agriculture Transition Board, comprising government, industry, community and environment representatives.

Five-year review cycles with clear performance metrics tied to the "just transition outcomes."

3. Questions for Respondents
Respondents are invited to comment on:

The ambition and feasibility of proposed emissions-reduction and sequestration targets.

How best to allocate funding between smallholders, larger estates and community projects.

Mechanisms to ensure fair distribution of costs and benefits across Scotland's diverse rural geographies.

Strengthening governance structures to provide transparent, accountable oversight.

Identifying any gaps in skills provision and research support.

Read the full consultation report and respond HERE