A Green MSP has called on the Scottish Government to legislate to deal with nitrogen pollution from agriculture.

Mark Ruskell MSP made the comments during a debate on the Scottish Parliament’s environment, climate change and land reform committee’s Air Quality in Scotland Inquiry.

“We need our Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity finally to grasp that proportionate regulation to deal with nitrogen pollution can only bring cost savings to farmers, while protecting our soils, rivers, climate and air,” said Mr Ruskell.

Committee convener, Graeme Dey (SNP) spoke of the committee’s surprise that agriculture is not included in the Scottish Government’s Cleaner Air for Scotland Strategy, adding that the Scottish Government should consider incentives to farmers to speed up the adoption of new techniques to mitigate against air pollution.

Cabinet secretary for the environment, climate change and land reform, Roseanna Cunningham, said that the Cleaner Air for Scotland strategy deliberately focused on transport as it is the most important air pollution source.

“We are working to establish best practices for slurry application and storage to reduce emissions, while ensuring that it is properly co-ordinated with greenhouse gas reduction efforts,” said Cunningham.