Local Food for Everyone: Our Journey

Section 2 - Our Local Food Strategy

We want everyone in Scotland to know about, have access to and enjoy the excellent local food and drink that our country produces. The Scottish Government and partners will support local food and drink development via the three pillars set out below.

Connecting individuals and businesses with local food through these pillars can help us achieve a healthier population, support our local economy and jobs across the sector, and help contribute to our net zero targets by reducing food miles. More information on the motivation for the choice of our pillars and the benefits of local food to all aspects of society can be found in section 4.

The ongoing work to develop the national and, in time, the local Good Food Nation Plans will help to provide an overarching framework for clear, consistent and coherent future Scottish food policy. The work set out under each of these three pillars will help contribute to a more joined up approach, particularly in relation to local food.

What we want to achieve

Pillar One: Connecting people with local food

• The people of Scotland value the food they eat, know where it comes from and how to prepare it.
• Greater opportunities for growing food within our local communities and local areas.
• Increased access to locally produced food for those on lower incomes and investing in local economies.

Pillar Two: Connecting Scottish producers with buyers

• Businesses to have the agility and resource to shorten supply chains and contribute to a circular economy.
• Increase the amount of local food and drink sourced, served and sold across food service, wholesale and retail.
• More direct connections and selling opportunities between suppliers and the public, such as markets and online sales.
• More local food and drink available for visitors to taste and buy.

Pillar Three: Harnessing public sector procurement

• Drive greater use of qualitative, fresh, nutritious and seasonal food and drink across the public sector.
• Food suppliers in Scotland feel enabled and are ready and able to bid for catering contracts.

How we will get there

Pillar One: Connecting people with local food

• Encouraging learning about food production through organisations such as the Royal Highland Education Trust.
• Making land available and providing support for local community growing.
• Continuing to tackle food poverty and investing in local communities.

Pillar Two: Connecting Scottish producers with buyers

• Supporting businesses and suppliers to foster short and circular supply chains.
• Encouraging retailers to stock local produce and encouraging consumers to buy local food.
• Supporting producers to obtain Geographical Indication status for their products which offers market recognition and product differentiation.
• Working with industry to improve access to local markets through the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership Industry Strategy.
• Helping to deliver tourism plans to ensure people can enjoy local produce out of home.

Pillar Three: Harnessing public sector procurement

• We plan to update Catering for Change, which will set out principles in relation to sustainable procurement of food and catering services in the public sector, to align public procurement behind sustainable, low carbon farming and food.
• Building on the links made between the national and local Good Food Nation Plans to support wider consideration of food policy when considering best practice in public procurement.
• Support schemes such as the Food for Life Scotland programme to help local authorities and the wider public sector increase local food on the table, which delivers a vital boost to local economies.