The next funding round for the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) will open from the end of the month, Scottish rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon has said.

Rural businesses in Scotland with projects that protect the environment and the impacts of climate change can benefit from more than £14 million in AECS funding.

The forthcoming round will target agri-environment support, organics and slurry storage options and aims to support the ambition to double the amount of land under organic management by 2026.

The Scottish government also announced that this year’s £5 million Agriculture Transformation Fund will extend support for slurry storage.

This support aims to help the sector meet the regulatory requirements introduced to improve the storage of slurry and digestate on farms.

Application windows for AECS:

“AECS continues to play a significant role in making Scotland a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture," Gougeon said.

“Our £14 million of support will help hundreds of farmers, land managers and world-class producers to thrive, while backing our climate change agenda and our response to the biodiversity crisis.

The chief executive of NatureScot - a Scottish government agency focussed on the country's natural, genetic and scenic diversity - Francesca Osowska, said: “The vital work of farmers and crofters is integral to building a nature-rich future for Scotland.

“These important projects will bring many environmental benefits, such as flood prevention, healthy soils, improved water quality and increased organic farming, while protecting both the habitats and wildlife that surround us.”