Opinion piece: the ADBA Scottish Conference looking ahead on the Scottish Elections

Opinion piece: the ADBA Scottish Conference looking ahead the Scottish Elections

By Cameron Ball, External Affairs Lead, ADBA

On 7 May 2026, Scotland will head to the polls in what is widely expected to be one of the most consequential elections since the 2014 independence referendum. With political volatility at Westminster, shifting alliances, and fluctuating polling across parties, the prospect of an SNP resurgence and the return of John Swinney as First Minister no longer feels improbable, but more likely than ever.

Beyond the party-political dynamics, the mood across Scotland is increasingly defined by something more fundamental: a desire for stability.

After years of ambitious promises from governments in both Holyrood and Westminster, voters are now looking for a secure and credible path forward. Energy security, the net zero transition, quality jobs, and the cost of living are no longer abstract policy debates. They are daily realities for households, businesses, farmers and communities across the country.

These themes will sit at the heart of ADBA’s Scottish Conference in Edinburgh in just two weeks’ time.  At this pivotal moment, ADBA’s conference will provide an opportunity not just to reflect on the sector’s progress, but to challenge decision makers and shape the debate ahead of polling day. With the election almost exactly two months away, the conference will bring together policymakers, industry leaders and stakeholders to discuss what the anaerobic digestion and bioresources sector needs to not only survive, but truly thrive.

We are pleased that the Cabinet Secretary, Gillian Martin, will join us to set out her party’s record in government and its ambitions for the sector. Following her recent visit to an AD site, the conversation will move beyond rhetoric to practical delivery. What has been achieved, what remains to be done, and how Scotland can maintain momentum in the face of tightening environmental regulations and support schemes that are drawing to a close.

The timing of the conference could not be more significant.

Since we last gathered for our annual Scottish Conference, important political developments have taken place. Motions recognising the value of anaerobic digestion have been laid, debated and supported in the Scottish Parliament. Just after the new year, Emma Harper led a parliamentary debate highlighting the positive contribution AD makes to Scotland’s climate ambitions, rural economy and circular economy objectives, while explicitly recognising the work of ADBA in championing the sector.

Crucially, members from across the political spectrum, including Scottish Labour, the Scottish Conservatives and the Scottish National Party, spoke positively about AD and endorsed calls for greater support. That cross party consensus is significant. It demonstrates that anaerobic digestion is not a partisan issue, but a strategic national asset.

Now is the moment to turn that goodwill into concrete action.

Scotland’s AD sector has already proven its value. It contributes to decarbonising heat, power and transport. It enhances energy sovereignty at a time when global markets remain volatile. It supports farmers with sustainable waste management solutions and digestate fertiliser, strengthening food security and rural resilience. It also underpins Brand Scotland as a leader in climate ambition and environmental innovation.

However, ambition alone is not enough. Investors and operators need long term policy clarity. They need planning and permitting systems that enable timely development. They need support frameworks that recognise the full system value of biomethane, biogas and bioresources across the whole value chain.

With an election just weeks away, the choices made in May will shape the regulatory, financial and political environment in which our industry operates for years to come. Those working in the energy and agricultural sectors, like many voters across Scotland, will be asking which parties offer a credible plan for delivering net zero while protecting jobs and lowering costs.

The ADBA Scottish Conference on 4 March in Edinburgh will provide a platform to test those plans, scrutinise commitments, and make the case for a stable, investable framework that allows our sector to flourish.

Scotland is looking for stability. Anaerobic digestion offers exactly that: reliable, domestic, low carbon energy, support for rural communities, and a practical route to net zero.~

The question now is whether the next Scottish Government will fully grasp that opportunity.

View the programme and register for the ADBA Scottish Conference 2026 HERE