Current status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 1 December 2025
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the reasons for any applications to the Future Farming Investment Scheme not being approved.
Answer
There were many reasons why applications were not considered eligible for grant supporting. These were:
One or more items applied for not fundable (multiple unrelated items applied for as a single entry/incomplete description/no supporting animals for item/no lengths, areas etc.)
Application email provided was not valid
Business declared their business didn't deliver any of the Scottish Governments Vision for Agriculture
Failed the Active Farmer/Crofter BPS test
No other Support Scheme Claims
No Single Application Form Submitted
Not Registered & Approved for Funding
Didn't Comply With Whole Farm Plan requirements for BPS
Payment Holds Applied To Business
Agricultural Area Less than 3 hectares
Previous Capital Grant Scheme Claim Refused
Declared New Entrant but evidence showed not meeting FFIS definition
Declared Young Farmer but evidence showed not meeting FFIS definition
Declared Organic Land but evidence showed not meeting FFIS definition
Declared they were a medium sized business to obtain higher grant than entitled to
Declared they were a large business to obtain higher grant than entitled to
Declared they were a small business but farmed area greater than 30 hectares
Declared that more than 50% of their agricultural business was on a tenancy but wasn't
Declared they were island based but weren’t
Did not declare previous SACGS/CAGS Payment
Recoverability Safeguard Not Passed (level of outstanding debt to SG)
Applied for more than their maximum grant eligibility
Businesses that were eligible were then scored against the schemes objectives: business efficiency, business sustainability, environmental protection, greenhouse gas reduction, climate adaptation, as well as public good.
FFIS was a competitive scheme and businesses which met all verification checks and scored highest against scheme objectives were ultimately granted funding.