Seòmar agus comataidhean

Michael, could you address the same point?

As the convener, I get the privilege of asking the last question. A consultation on the replacement for the common agricultural policy launched in August and is expected to be published in spring 2022. Jonnie Hall of NFU Scotland has said that it is

“a defining moment for the future of Scottish agriculture.”

Business as usual cannot be an option. We need something to ensure that farmers and crofters, regardless of size or type, will play their role in food production and their part in the climate change and biodiversity emergencies.

We have just heard Jim Fairlie give eye-watering figures on the value of the food and drink industry and say that we are just touching the edges when it comes to funding. I will put my question to everyone in turn. Can you give me your hopes, aspirations and fears for the future agricultural support to replace the CAP?

Our third item of business is consideration of a notification from the Scottish ministers for consent to the regulations. I refer members to committee paper 3. Under the protocol between the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government, the consent notification has been categorised as type 1, which means that the Scottish Parliament’s agreement is sought before the Scottish Government gives consent to the UK Government making secondary legislation in devolved competence.

Since members have no comments on the consent notification, is the committee content that the provisions that are set out in the notification should be included in the proposed UK SI?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you all very much for your interesting and thought-provoking contributions. I am sure that the committee shares my view that it has been very useful. I apologise for the glitches that we had earlier and thank you for your patience. We ran over time, but we could probably speak for another hour.

As Karen Adam has no further questions, I will move on to Jenni Minto.

Do you have another supplementary question?

Thank you. Before we move on to David Finlay, I declare an interest as a neighbour of his. Having had the pleasure of farming on similar ground in Borgue, I have often felt his pain. I invite him to make an opening statement.

Our main item of business today is the second in a series of evidence sessions on the impact of the climate and nature emergencies. Today, we will focus on innovation and new approaches to environmental challenges in the rural economy.

I welcome our first panel of witnesses and thank them for their patience. They will discuss the terrestrial environment. We have Michael Clarke, Scotland chair of the Nature Friendly Farming Network; David Finlay, owner of the Ethical Dairy; Dee Ward, chairman of the Wildlife Estates Scotland initiative; and Andrew Bauer, head of food and footprint. Mr Bauer is replacing Rebecca Audsley.

The evidence session will take a slightly different form. I invite Michael Clarke to make a brief opening statement setting out some of the background to his innovative projects, followed by David Finlay, Dee Ward and then Andrew Bauer.

Absolutely.

That is fascinating. I am about to move on, because I am at risk of hogging the whole session. You talked about changes in growth. Do warmer waters increase growth rates or, because cod are cold-water metabolising fish, if you like, do they slow them down? Do warmer waters have the opposite effect to what would be our normal thinking, which is that warm water increases growth?