🎧 Listen to today’s podcast
📚 Key Vocabulary
| Word | Definition | 中文 |
|---|---|---|
| electorate | All the people in a country or area who are entitled to vote in an election. | 选民 |
| mitigation | The act of making something less severe, serious, or painful. | 缓解；减轻 |
| paramount | More important than anything else; supreme. | 最重要的；至高无上的 |
| staple | A main or important element of something, especially a basic food item that is used frequently. | 主食；主要产品 |
| apprehension | Anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen. | 忧虑；担心 |
| squeezed | To force something into a smaller space or amount, often causing pressure or difficulty. | 压缩；挤压（利润等） |
| ringfencing | The act of ensuring that an amount of money is used only for a particular purpose. | 专款专用；划拨专用款项 |
| pivotal | Of crucial importance in relation to the development or success of something else. | 关键的；核心的 |
📖 Read the Article
The future of farming is emerging as a critical issue in Scotland’s ongoing election campaign. The rural electorate, comprising farmers and crofters – small-scale agriculturists often managing rented land – constitutes a significant yet frequently overlooked demographic. This sector has experienced a decade of profound transformation, partly due to the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, commonly known as Brexit.
The traditional role of farmers, primarily focused on food production, is undergoing a substantial evolution. They are increasingly viewed as custodians of the natural environment, charged with protecting biodiversity and actively contributing to climate change mitigation. Another paramount concern for the agricultural industry is food security, which entails ensuring a stable and adequate food supply for the entire population.
Public awareness of food origins often heightens when prices escalate, a phenomenon recently observed as global geopolitical events have contributed to increased grocery costs. In response, the Scottish National Party (SNP) recently unveiled its election manifesto, pledging to cap prices on staple foods to enhance the affordability of healthy eating. However, farmers themselves, whose profit margins have long been squeezed by the considerable purchasing power of large supermarkets, express apprehension that they would bear the financial burden of such price controls.
Annually, the Scottish government provides approximately £660 million in support to farmers. The agricultural sector across Scotland employs around 67,000 individuals. Andrew Connon, President of NFU Scotland (National Farmers’ Union), highlights that farmers offer more than just high-quality produce; they can significantly advance biodiversity, nature conservation, and climate change mitigation, provided the sector maintains its functionality, sustainability, and profitability.
NFU Scotland is advocating for the next government to increase the agricultural budget and commit to ringfencing funds for several years. This kind of long-term financial certainty was a feature of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy before Brexit. Post-Brexit, the administration of farm support has transitioned to the Scottish government, with a redesigned scheme slated for implementation during the upcoming parliamentary term. By 2031, the focus of this support will progressively shift from direct aid for food production towards a greater emphasis on environmental protection and nature conservation. All six major political parties in Scotland have indicated their consensus on the necessity of supporting the farming sector throughout this pivotal transition.
✏️ Reading Practice
1. What is the main focus of the article?
- A.The historical evolution of Scottish farming methods.
- B.The challenges and changing priorities for Scottish farming in the upcoming election.
- C.The impact of global events on Scottish food prices.
- D.The financial difficulties faced by supermarkets in Scotland.
2. According to the article, what is a key difference in the future focus of farm support by 2031?
- A.It will prioritize direct financial payments to large farms.
- B.It will be managed by the European Union again.
- C.It will shift towards environmental protection rather than primarily food production.
- D.It will no longer involve government funding.
3. Why are Scottish farmers concerned about the SNP’s proposal to cap prices on staple foods?
- A.They fear their already narrow profit margins will be further reduced.
- B.They believe it will lead to a shortage of food in supermarkets.
- C.They think it will only benefit large corporations, not consumers.
- D.They are against any government intervention in food pricing.
4. The term ‘ringfencing funds’ in the context of NFU Scotland’s request refers to:
- A.creating a competitive environment for agricultural businesses.
- B.reducing the total amount of money available for farmers.
- C.using funds to develop new farming technologies.
- D.allocating specific money for a particular purpose for an extended period.
5. What is Andrew Connon’s perspective on the role of farmers?
- A.Their primary role should remain solely food production.
- B.They can contribute significantly to environmental goals if the sector is supported.
- C.They are struggling too much to focus on anything beyond survival.
- D.Their importance to the economy is generally overrated.