Isles Liberal Democrats call for clarity on Future Farming Investment Scheme funding

Scottish Liberal Democrats, Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart, and MSP candidate Emma Macdonald have called on the Scottish Government to explain the allocation of funding from the Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS). Ministerial priorities gave extra weighting to applications for new entrants, young farmers, tenants, small agricultural, organic businesses and island-based.

59 Shetland-based applicants received £401,996.66 of grant funding or 1.88% of the total scheme’s £21.4 million budget. Despite extra weighting considered for island-based businesses only 11.41% of the scheme’s budget went to island applicants across Scotland. 

Scottish Liberal Democrat and Orkney MSP Liam McArthur has made similar calls for clarity from the Scottish Government with Orkney to receive 3.48% of funding for 62 grant offers.

Beatrice Wishart said:

“We need clarity from the Scottish Government on how applications were scored to arrive at the announced funding for Shetland from the Future Farming Investment Scheme.

“Our geographic location brings greater challenges to crofters, farmers and growers, and policies such as the FFIS could help to level the playing field.

“In this case, young island-based farmers were encouraged with the potential capital grants from FFIS could make to their businesses, only for that potential to be crushed.”

Shetland candidate Emma Macdonald said: 

“It’s disappointing to see Shetland receiving such a small share of this funding, especially when island farmers and crofters face some of the toughest conditions in the country. The Future Farming Investment Scheme was meant to recognise those extra challenges, not overlook them.

“Our farmers and crofters are doing their best to adapt, innovate, and keep local food production going, they deserve fair support to do that. The Scottish Government needs to explain how this funding was decided, and make sure island communities aren’t left at the bottom of the list.”