Scotland has a highly concentrated pattern of private landownership, and concerns persist regarding diversity, transparency, and accountability in landownership. Over the past 25 years, the Scottish Government has sought to pursue a land reform agenda that aims to redistribute the benefits arising from land and ensure that land ownership and governance contribute to the public interest. The most recent Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 (passed by the Scottish Parliament in November) has brought in new provisions to reduce the scale and concentration of large private land-holdings, empower communities to access land and be engaged in land management decision-making, and for tenant farmers to undertake nature restoration and climate mitigation measures such as afforestation and peatland restoration.
This Connect Series webinar provided an overview of the most recent land reform legislation in Scotland, how research informed policy developments, and considered how Scottish land ownership and governance intersect with just transition goals and wider food system resilience. Critically, the speakers considered whether land reform can and will be a mechanism for food system transformation in Scotland and across the Global North.
Catch up on this Connect Series event.
On the first Thursday of each month our Knowledge Exchange Fellow, Dr Tracey Duncombe, holds a webinar showcasing research and innovation across the Food System landscape. To date, these events have covered a variety of topics from public diners and whole school approaches to food, to putting food centre stage at COP29 and cultured meat. If you would like to join future webinars please email food.systems@bbsrc.ukri.org or to catch up on previous events visit our YouTube playlist.
