Scottish Crofting Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF), which was formerly called the Scottish Crofting Foundation (itself formerly called the Scottish Crofters Union), is an organisation of crofting
communities
in the highlands and islands
of Scotland
.
The Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) is the only member-led organisation dedicated to promoting crofting and is the largest association of small-scale food producers in the UK.
Its mission is to safeguard and promote the rights, livelihoods and culture of crofters and their communities.
Its magazine is called The Crofter. The current chairman is Neil Macleod who sits on the Rural Development Council
.
or similar small agri-business that is located in Highlands
or the Islands of Scotland.
Only those businesses that qualify and are members of the Scottish Crofting Federation may place the mark on their products.
The federation states on its web site that it plans to enforce product quality, cleanliness and traceability, as well as ensure animals are healthy and reasonably treated.
Established and run by crofters, SCF engages with agencies and government at a local, national and international level to influence policy on rural issues including sustaining rural populations, food production and environmental protection.
It also provides a network of support to established, new, and aspiring crofters through training, mentoring and sharing of experience.
Crofting provides sustainable livelihoods, fresh local produce, a secure homestead and vibrant communities.
Small-scale eco-friendly systems, as practiced by crofters, is an alternative to industrial agriculture
.
Most of the UK’s High Nature Value farming is found in the crofting areas.
Extensive land management methods have created and preserved the habitats of many rare species now threatened elsewhere in the UK, and continuing crofting land use is recognised as having an important role in maintaining and increasing biodiversity.
Crofting
Crofting is a form of land tenure and small-scale food production unique to the Scottish Highlands, the Islands of Scotland, and formerly on the Isle of Man....
communities
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
in the highlands and islands
Highlands and Islands
The Highlands and Islands of Scotland are broadly the Scottish Highlands plus Orkney, Shetland and the Hebrides.The Highlands and Islands are sometimes defined as the area to which the Crofters' Act of 1886 applied...
of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
The Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) is the only member-led organisation dedicated to promoting crofting and is the largest association of small-scale food producers in the UK.
Its mission is to safeguard and promote the rights, livelihoods and culture of crofters and their communities.
Its magazine is called The Crofter. The current chairman is Neil Macleod who sits on the Rural Development Council
Rural Development Council
The Rural Development Council is an advisory body to the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead MSP...
.
Scottish crofting produce mark
The Scottish crofting produce mark was introduced in 2008 to identify products produced by a croftCroft
Croft may refer to: * Croft, an area of land with a crofter's dwelling, used for crofting .* Bleachfield, an open space used for the bleaching of fabric, sometimes called crofts.Locations in the United Kingdom:...
or similar small agri-business that is located in Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
or the Islands of Scotland.
Only those businesses that qualify and are members of the Scottish Crofting Federation may place the mark on their products.
The federation states on its web site that it plans to enforce product quality, cleanliness and traceability, as well as ensure animals are healthy and reasonably treated.
SCF
SCF is the charity dedicated to safeguarding crofting and its cultural heritage now and for generations to come.Established and run by crofters, SCF engages with agencies and government at a local, national and international level to influence policy on rural issues including sustaining rural populations, food production and environmental protection.
It also provides a network of support to established, new, and aspiring crofters through training, mentoring and sharing of experience.
Importance of crofting
Crofting has sustained rural communities in some of the remotest and most fragile areas in Western Europe.Crofting provides sustainable livelihoods, fresh local produce, a secure homestead and vibrant communities.
Small-scale eco-friendly systems, as practiced by crofters, is an alternative to industrial agriculture
Industrial agriculture
Industrial farming is a form of modern farming that refers to the industrialized production of livestock, poultry, fish, and crops. The methods of industrial agriculture are technoscientific, economic, and political...
.
Most of the UK’s High Nature Value farming is found in the crofting areas.
Extensive land management methods have created and preserved the habitats of many rare species now threatened elsewhere in the UK, and continuing crofting land use is recognised as having an important role in maintaining and increasing biodiversity.