The grant programme prioritised applications that would boost business efficiency and resilience, protect or enhance the environment, cut greenhouse gas emissions or mitigate climate impacts. Agriculture minister Jim Fairlie welcomed the sectors’ reaction to the scheme: “The response to the Future Farming Investment Scheme has been absolutely incredible, with more than 7500 applications received. The new FFIS marks a step up from previous Scottish Government grants such as the Sustainable Agriculture Capital Grant Scheme and the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme. Like those programmes, it offers one-off payments to help farmers buy equipment or improve infrastructure, but FFIS is wider in scope and more closely tied to climate targets. Funding is linked not only to efficiency and business resilience but also to cutting greenhouse-gas emissions and improving soil and water health.