Listen
National food discussion begins
15/01/2008
The first steps towards a national policy for food, designed to boost jobs and business, help make food healthier and minimise the environmental impact of food production, manufacture and retail, were taken today.
The food policy, which would be the first of its kind in the UK, aims to join up government policy on every part of the food chain from farm gate to plate.
Launching a national discussion at a school breakfast club along with chef Nick Nairn and Hearts FC players, Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment said:
"Scotland produces some of the finest food in the world but we need to tap into the full potential of this great resource for the benefit of everyone. We want to make sure we choose the right ingredients to make the most of Scotland's food.
"We want the freshest, finest future for Scottish food. Supporting food production and manufacturing in Scotland is in our national interest.
"Food is about so much more than what we eat. It is about jobs, the environment, tourism and the health of our nation.
"The time is right to start this debate and I hope as many people as possible will have their say about the future of Scottish food. I want people to let us know what excites them about food and what makes it difficult for them to access healthy, Scottish, affordable food.
"The food and drink industry in Scotland is a key sector, and we are committed to working towards creating the right environment for its competitiveness and growth.
"The whole of Scottish Government is behind this cross-cutting policy which aims to secure a healthier, wealthier, greener Scotland."
The discussion paper 'Choosing The Right Ingredients', covers a wide-range of potential areas for change including:
- New traceability schemes so people know where their food comes from
- Greater innovation to develop more low-fat, low-salt and low-sugar food
- Working with producers and retailers to deliver a more sustainable food chain
- Teaching children how to cook and helping them learn about taste and nutrition at a younger age
- The promotion and sale of more affordable, healthier and clearly labelled Scottish produce
Commenting on the Sighthill school AEGON breakfast club project, Mr Lochhead added:
"The Sighthill AEGON breakfast club is an excellent example of providing pupils with a nutritious start to the day. As part of our food policy we will be encouraging our young people to develop healthy eating habits that will benefit them for the rest of their lives and help tackle the serious problem of obesity."
Commenting on the AEGON breakfast club project, Nick Nairn said:
"This is a great initiative. It is imperative we don't under estimate the importance of breakfast to set us up for the day. Too many Scot's children are going out of the house under nourished and not able to achieve their full potential."
Working in partnership with the Heart of Midlothian Education and Community Trust and the City of Edinburgh Council (and with the support of local business), AEGON aims to provide a funded breakfast club in every primary school in the Edinburgh area by 2010.
The National Food Policy for Scotland will be the first cross-cutting policy on food developed in the UK