The Scottish government has launched a consultation on its plans to ensure everyone in Scotland can access nutritious, sustainable food.
The Good Food Nation Plan sets out the ways in which the Scottish government will work with businesses and organisations across society to help connect people to locally produced, high-quality food.
The plan will cover everything from farm to fork and beyond and draw together a range of different policies. It will also require key public bodies, particularly local authorities and health boards, to set out their plans.
Small business, innovation, tourism and trade minister Richard Lochhead commented: “This week the world will celebrate Burns Night which contributes to a thriving food culture and interest in Scottish cuisine. Supermarkets will offer Scottish dishes to shoppers, and many will use Scottish ingredients to prepare their traditional Burns Suppers.
“In a Good Food Nation, this celebration of good quality and sustainable Scottish produce will be the norm. People across the nation will be able to easily access high quality food and drink, and will benefit from the food they produce, buy, cook and eat each day.
“We have come far in this journey, but we recognise that more needs to be done. That’s why we are seeking views on our fresh approach to food policy to make this vision for our food system a reality.”
Welcoming the consultation, David Thomson, Food and Drink Federation Scotland’s chief executive officer, said: “Food and drink businesses are at the heart of communities all across Scotland. To be a Good Food Nation we need the right policy and support for those businesses.
“That means support to de-risk investment in projects that will help our businesses become more sustainable and productive; infrastructure to allow us to effectively move goods around the country and for export; and the right skills and people within our businesses and regulators to ensure our food and drink remains world renowned for quality and safety.
“We will continue to work with the Scottish Government to ensure that our vital food and drink manufacturers are supported in their journey to a sustainable, resilient and profitable future.”
The consultation will be open until Monday 22 April 2024.
