03 Jul Brussels Bound
The Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC) has announced the return of its popular short-haul study tour, with members set to travel to Brussels in January 2027 to learn more about European agriculture, trade and policymaking.
The announcement was made by SAYFC Agri and Rural Affairs chair James Kennedy during a joint reception with the NFU Scotland Next Generation Committee at the Royal Highland Show.
Kennedy said the visit would help young farmers gain a better understanding of the European Union and its influence on Scottish agriculture, particularly as closer trading relationships and new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreements continue to shape the sector.
“Following discussions around Scotland’s future relationship with the EU, it is important that the next generation of farmers understands European agricultural policy, trade agreements and the implications of the new SPS agreement,” he said.
The study tour will include visits to the European Parliament, farms and agricultural businesses in Belgium, giving participants the opportunity to see how farming operates in a different policy environment.
Kennedy also thanked the Scottish Government for continuing to support SAYFC while construction of its new headquarters progresses. He highlighted the success of the organisation’s fundraising efforts, which unlocked £98,000 of Scottish Government match funding announced by Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie last year.
Reflecting on engagement with government, Kennedy praised the accessibility of Scottish ministers compared with experiences shared by young farming representatives from elsewhere in the UK.
“Young farmers from across the UK were surprised to hear that we regularly have one-to-one discussions with Scotland’s Agriculture Minister. That level of engagement is something we value greatly.”
The reception also heard from NFU Scotland Next Generation Committee chair Ben McClymont, who outlined priorities for young farmers and crofters.
He called for more publicly owned land to be made available to new entrants, continued financial support to help young people establish farming businesses, investment in training and skills development, and long-term certainty through ring-fenced agricultural funding.
“We need policies that give young people the confidence to enter the industry and businesses the confidence to continue investing,” he said.
McClymont also urged ministers to maintain the strong dialogue established with the sector over recent years.
Responding to the calls, Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said engagement with young farmers remained a priority for the Scottish Government.
“We need to know what the issues are and hear directly from the people working on the ground,” he said. “We cannot solve every challenge or fund every project, but we can work together to find practical solutions and build a strong, sustainable sector for the next generation.”
Fairlie acknowledged that access to land, finance, skills and experience remain significant barriers for new entrants but pointed to a number of initiatives already delivering results.
These include the Scottish Land Matching Service, which has handled more than 2000 enquiries and supported over 70 farming matches, and the Land-Based Pre-Apprenticeship Programme, which is expected to involve around 400 participants from both farming and non-farming backgrounds.
He also highlighted the work of the Farming Opportunities for New Entrants group, which has helped coordinate opportunities across more than 8500 hectares of public land.
Addressing requests for continued dialogue, Mr Fairlie committed to further engagement with young farmer representatives.
“We will absolutely continue those round-table discussions because it is only through that level of engagement that we can identify the challenges and work towards solutions together,” he said.
The Brussels study tour is expected to open for applications later this year, with further details to be released by SAYFC in the coming weeks.