The Scottish Government published Scotland's first National Food and Drink Policy on June 26, 2009.
The policy is based on the Report (also published June 26, 2009) of the Food and Drink Leadership Forum which takes account of the outputs from each of the five workstreams (listed below) which considered in detail the key issues raised as a result of the food discussion.
You can read the reports from each workstream (also published June 26, 2009) and learn more about what they did, by looking at the links below:
- Sustainable economic growth
- Healthy and sustainable food & drink choices
- Celebrating and safeguarding Scotland's reputation as a Land of Food and Drink
- Walking the talk - getting public sector procurement right
- Food security, access and affordability
A number of other pieces of supporting evidence informed the development of the food and drink policy, these were also published on June 26, 2009 - the work is listed below:
Food and Drink in Scotland: Key Facts 2009
Local Versus Global Markets for Scottish Food Producers and Consumers: What Difference Does it Make?
Public sector expenditure on food and drink in Scotland
Public Sector Food Procurement in Scotland: An Overview of Current Evidence
Food Security: The Role for the Scottish Government in Ensuring Continuity of Food Supply to and within Scotland and Access to Affordable Food
Food Prices: An Overview of Current Evidence
Product Origin - Scotland: A Review of Industry Practice and Evidence
Food Discussion
In early 2008 we asked what you thought should be in a food policy when we launched our discussion paper "Choosing the right ingredients." Read the full discussion paper Over 500 individuals and organisations responded saying that diet & nutrition, local food & local economies, health promotion, education and access were amongst the issues most important to them. Read the Written Responses
It was clear that the Scottish Government was being set a real challenge as to how the various objectives and perspectives set out by respondents could be reconciled.
To this end, in June 2008 the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment, Richard established five workstreams to consider in more detail the the key issues stemming from the food discussion and to provide recommendations in key areas.