New study will examine Brexit’s impact on Highlands and Islands

A study into the impact of Brexit on agriculture, crofting and land use in the Highlands and Islands is to be carried out.

The Highland Council, Argyll and Bute, Shetland, Orkney and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, in partnership with RSPB Scotland, have commissioned Andrew Moxey (Pareto Consulting) and Steven Thomson (SRUC) to investigate the implications of Brexit on the areas.

The study will build on work already undertaken in Scotland and will be used to inform future policy development.

The study will look at the impact of Brexit on crofting, land use and agriculture in the Highlands and Islands

This predominately desk based study aims to:

• Establish the present state of the agriculture, crofting and related land use in the Highlands and Islands;
• Project the likely social, environmental and economic impacts of Brexit under different scenarios; and
• Make recommendations for policy and support measures in moving forward.

Councillor Allan Henderson, chair of The Highland Council’s Environment Development and Infrastructure Committee said: ‘Leaving the EU will pose real challenges for farming, land management and the environment in the Highlands and Islands and we need to understand the potential impacts.

‘Considerable uncertainties around Brexit remain but this study will be extremely useful in providing baseline information, highlighting likely challenges and opportunities and informing possible future policy responses to respond to these.’

The study is due to be completed February 2018, the results of which will be shared widely.