Image source, bbc

Nicola Sturgeon has repeatedly called on the UK government to guarantee EU nationals living in the UK can remain after Brexit.

In August Scotland's first minister made her plea as she hosted a question and answer session with hundreds of EU nationals.

Many were concerned about whether they would have the right to live and work in Scotland when the UK leaves the EU.

Ms Sturgeon said it was "disgraceful" that the UK had not guaranteed the right of EU nationals to remain.

Read more here .

Tom Hind from the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board says "we need to look to the future and not just look at the risks and the threat."

Mr Hind says there is an opportunity to improve the skills of the workforce to increase productivity. 

"What can you do to get more of the unemployed in the UK back into the workforce?" He says.

Image source, bbc

In February the Scottish Conservative leader has insisted UK ministers recognise farmers' concerns about access to migrant workers post-Brexit.

Ruth Davidson said that the country needs an immigration policy which serves agriculture as its top priority.

She was speaking at the NFU Scotland AGM in Glasgow.

Many farmers have raised concerns about access to eastern Europe workers who are considered vital to areas like fruit-picking.

But the Scottish Tory leader said a deal was needed which would not deprive the economy of labour.

Jonnie Hall from NFU Scotland says at any one time in Scotland there are about 15,000 seasonal workers and about 8,000 full-time equivalents. 

Mr Hall says  lot of veterinary services in Scotland are provided by EU migrants.

He says "we cannot get an answer from the UK government as to what controlled movement means."

Mr Hall says "we need answers from the Home Office and we do keep writing to Amber Rudd but she does not respond"

Image source, PA

In January the UK environment secretary said shewas "absolutely committed" to ensuring that British farmers have access to migrant workers after Brexit.

Andrea Leadsom said the government would ensure the food and farming sectors have the labour they need but the details were not settled yet.

Mrs Leadsom also said that leaving the EU will allow the government to slash "ridiculous" farming red tape.

Critics are worried that these plans will damage key wildlife protections.

Around 60,000 seasonal workers come to the UK each summer, mainly from eastern Europe.

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

Tom Hind from the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board raises the issue around the migrant workforce which is crucial for the food and drink industry. 

Andrew Midgley from Scottish Land and Estates says certainty is required for the migrant workforce.

Steven Thomson from SRUC says "in the processing sector we are heavily reliant on migrant labour". 

Mr Thomson says in research, migrants contribute a great deal to the sector. 

SNP MSP Mairi Evans asks what the Brexit implications will be for labour across agriculture.  

Stuart Goodall from Confor says seasonal migrant labour is used across the sector.

Mr Goodall says "there is a need for the forestry sector to be included in any seasonal migrant labour scheme."

Image source, bbc

Steven Thomson from SRUC says if forced to trade on WTO rules the sheep and beef industry is in for a 'torrid time'.

Pete Ritchie from Scottish Environment Link says: "The Scottish sheep sector is a vanishingly small part of the UK economy and won't feature highly in the negotiations."

He says: "It is potentially cataclysmic in terms of our landscape as well as our industry."

"We have to be prepared for the worst as well as hoping for the best."

Stuart Goodall from Confor says the forestry industry exports very little outside the UK.

Mr Goodall says "trade with the rest of the UK is the big issue for us". 

Image source, bbc

Andrew Midgley from Scottish Land and Estates agrees there are opportunities here.

Jonnie Hall from NFU Scotland says his organisation wants to see continued unfettered trade with the EU.

Mr Hall says free trade agreements should allow the absence of tariffs and trade barriers. 

He says if cheap imports of food are sucked in post-Brexit, you are exporting the responsibility for health and safety standards and environmental standards.

Mr Hall says Scotland can never compete in high volume markets but must have a good story behind the products and high standards.

He say "it is extremely dangerous to be contemplating anything that might threaten Scottish export capacity" and adds new opportunities must be sought.

Tory MSP Jamie Greene asks what an ideal solution in a post-Brexit environment looks like.

Tom Hind from Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board says "there are undoubtedly big opportunities from Brexit."

Mr Hind says there are "tremendous opportunities" in China. 

He says we cannot underestimate the importance of trade with the UK and with the EU.

Image source, bbc

Tom Hind from the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board says he has worked in farming and retail and he says you can't buck the market.

Mr Hind says the question is can farmers compete on cost and he says the can in dairy farming.

He says eliminating waste is a real opportunity for agriculture and the food and drink industry.l

Steven Thomson from SRUC says there is a lot of evidence that hill farmers are not investing in their buildings.

Mr Thomson says 20% of the holdings in Scotland control 80% of the sheep and if you're talking about food production then you are talking about 20% of the holdings. 

He says working with stakeholders is essential and more co-operation is needed to make significant gains in profitability. 

He questions why there is not an agreement between barley producers and whisky makers that, where possible, they will source Scottish barley.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Peter Chapman says Scotland's food and drink is worth £14.5bn.

Mr Chapman says the problem with producers is they are small and they are dealing with big companies.

He asks if a stronger supermarket ombudsman is required to make things fairer.

Steven Thomson from SRUC says we need an overarching rural policy before we decide on an agricultural policy.

He says, in terms of climate change and the environment, there is a move towards an outcomes based approach, which is a fundamental challenge.

Under Brexit, we will have to justify to the taxpayer continued support to agriculture, he says.

Pete Ritchie from Scottish Environment Link says it seems that we could be doing more with the supply chain in the red meat sector but there is not a lot of knowledge transfer on this.

Mr Ritchie says "we want to see support for the food industry".

He says it must be affordable to people across Scotland on all incomes so consumption is as important as production.

Mr Ritchie says food like fruit and veg have health benefits. 

Image source, bbc

Andrew Midgley from Scottish Land and Estates says: 'The land delivers a great deal to society.'

He cites food, timber, climate change mitigation and water quality as examples.

Mr Midgley  says it is important to come up with the strongest possible justification to invest money in land management.

He says the strongest argument is around public goods.

There are problems about profitability and productivity, he says and there he adds there could be a role for the Scottish government to help in this ares.

Image source, Bloomberg

Of all UK industries, farming could lose or gain the most from Brexit.

At worst Brexit could devastate the farming sector; on average 60% of farm incomes come in the form of EU subsidies.

The report by  Informa Agribusiness Intelligence, external  estimates that without subsidies 90% of farms would collapse and land prices would crash.

So far no one has said the subsidies will be taken away, or even that they will shrink.

Indeed, the government has promised to match them up until 2020.

But beyond that it has promised nothing.

Committee convener Edward Mountain asks how farmers can be convinced that they are going to get value for money for what they produce. 

Tom Hind from the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board says, in order to unlock global opportunities and compete in a market place which can be "brutal", it will be vital to increase productivity.

"Productivity growth is at best flat," he says. 

Mr Hind says the reasons for this is the rate of innovation, knowledge transfer and skills.