Reaching net zero with Scotland’s farmers and food producers
The annual Royal Highland Show - a celebration of the best of food, farming and rural life - returns to Ingilston in Edinburgh from 22 to 25 June. Each year the topic of sustainability becomes more pertinent as Scotland tries to reach its ambitious target of net zero emissions by 2045. Within that broad subject, food production is a core consideration that presents both opportunities and challenges. The Royal Highland Show puts time and resources into educating people, particularly younger generations, on food production and how to make sustainable choices of what to eat.
Alan Laidlaw, chief executive officer of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), Katrina Barclay, executive officer at education charity Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) and Maria Carvalho, Royal Bank of Scotland head of climate economics and data, recently recorded a Sustainable Scotland podcast with The Scotsman to discuss sustainability in farming and food production.
Carvalho refers to Scotland’s Agricultural Bill which includes points on decarbonising the sector. “We need to think about how we can integrate nature and biodiversity and look at such things as peatland restoration and reforestation,” says Carvalho.
Laidlaw agrees that the availability of data is key, and believes Scotland is well-placed in that respect. “Scotland could jump a march on its competitors and the Royal Highland Show is a great place to come together and maximise those solutions,” he says.
RHET has a big role to play in informing people about food production and helping them make sustainable food choices. Barclay says it has lots of activities on offer across Scotland.
At the Royal Highland Show itself there are a plethora of activities over the four days designed to actively engage and educate young people, including a full programme in the RHET Discovery Centre.