The National Farmers’ Union for Scotland (NFUS) has said the government’s Good Food Nation Plan can be a “force for good” and stimulate more local sourcing across the public sector.
The union said Scotland’s farmers and crofters welcome the plan and see it as resulting in the shortening of supply chains.
The consultation for the Good Food Nation plan was published by the Scottish government on Wednesday (January 24) and will remain open for responses until Monday, April 22, 2024.
The government said the plan will work with businesses to help connect the Scottish public to locally-produced food.
NFUS president Martin Kennedy said: “The Scottish government’s Good Food Nation consultation presents an opportunity for the adoption of a ‘Scottish First’ policy through the National Food Plan, embedding a culture across the public sector of local sourcing.
The consultation’s intention to ensure that people across the nation will be able to easily access high quality food and drink means that it must properly value and support our low carbon, high nature farming systems here in Scotland rather than potentially opening the door to imports.
“In the act, we would want to see a procurement policy that was accessible and straightforward to allow small to medium enterprises to capitalise on the opportunity.
“Investment in local infrastructure, such as local abattoirs, food processing and transport links is also needed to build an agile and resilient supply chain which can service each local authority.”
Kennedy said the national plan must also set out opportunities for local authorities to educate and engage consumers with their local food system.
“This may include farming being integrated into the curriculum for excellence as well as supporting partnership working between the likes of the Royal Highland Educational Trust; Quality Meat Scotland’s educational team and other third sector organisations,” he said.
