Land - Where Ecology and the Economy Collide

THE BREAK-DOWN presents

Land - Where Ecology and the Economy Collide

Land sits at the heart of Scotland’s history and its future. From the Highland Clearances to today’s concentrated patterns of ownership, the control of land has shaped our economy, our communities, and our environment. In this session, hosted by John Merrick with Laurie Macfarlane from Future Economy Scotland and Kathie Pollard from the Scottish Land Commission, we’ll explore how land — one of our most vital shared resources — has been treated as a commodity, traded and speculated on for private gain rather than managed for public good. When “market value” becomes the primary measure of land, it distorts priorities, concentrates wealth, and deepens inequality. The question is whether we can begin to see land not as a financial asset, but as a foundation for ecological balance, community resilience, and democratic control.

This conversation brings together the festival’s recurring themes of power, inequality, and historical injustice. What does it mean to embed ecology within the economy rather than the other way round? How can Scotland move beyond a system where a few hundred individuals own most of its rural land, toward one that values stewardship, sustainability, and shared prosperity? This session will connect history, economics, and ecological policy to show that how we use and value land will determine not only the shape of our economy — but the health of our people, places and planet.

GENERAL ADMISSION £8.