A well-known north-east arable farmer has been tasked with ensuring pesticides are used correctly on farm.
Andrew Moir, who farms at Thornton Mains, near Laurencekirk, is the new chairman of the Voluntary Initiative (VI) in Scotland.
The scheme encourages the responsible use of plant protection products on-farm as well as working with politicians and the agrichemical industry on issues such as legislation, availability of products and water quality.
It was launched by the farming and crop protection industry in 2001 in response to the threat of a pesticide tax, which was estimated to be at a rate of 30%.
“The VI has increased farmer awareness of the good stewardship needed when working with plant protection products,” said Mr Moir, who takes over the chairmanship of the scheme from former NFU Scotland vice-president John Picken.
“This has not only helped the environment but also demonstrated why farmers can and must be trusted with an effective range of such products and tools so that we can continue to grow food efficiently in the face of growing pest and disease pressures.”
The scheme enabled farmers and the agrichemical industry to show that they took their responsibilities seriously, said Mr Moir.
“The VI provides an efficient, voluntary and light touch way for farmers and the wider agrichemical industry to show that we take our responsibilities very seriously.
“In turn, we hope to persuade regulators and politicians to recognise the significant strides the industry has made, and adopt a more pragmatic approach to keyareas for growers, without resorting to the blunt threat of taxation,” he added.
“That said, many Scottish growers may not have seen or appreciated the work being carried out on their behalf by the VI so in the next year, one of my challenges will be to raise the profile and activity of the VI here in Scotland.”
Mr Moir, who is married with three children, already holds several posts within the farming sector.
He is chairman of Ringlink Scotland and Ringlink Services, chairman of the AgriScot event, a member of the HGCA board and also sits on the board of NFU Scotland’s combinable crops committee, which he previously chaired for three years.