The First National Good Food Nation Plan

Conclusion

This, the first national Good Food Nation Plan, is a big step on our journey to becoming a Good Food Nation. It is underpinned by our world leading Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022, which provides the framework for a new way of working across the whole of the Scottish Government.

In drafting this first national Plan we have set out to identify a shared vision of what a Good Food Nation looks like, through consultation with the people of Scotland, policy colleagues across the Scottish Government and through parliamentary scrutiny. The six Good Food Nation Outcomes that underpin this Plan are built on this shared understanding and will be the foundation for future food policy developed by the Scottish Government.

We have also identified the problems that currently exist within our food system, and highlighted key areas of inequalities that are important to keep in mind when developing food policy.

This Plan also brings together, for the first time, a comprehensive assessment of the ongoing action being taken in relation to food policy across the Scottish Government. The task of drawing this wide-ranging information together in one place should not be underestimated. It has required extensive cross-portfolio engagement and has resulted in increased knowledge and awareness of Good Food Nation.

This understanding of Scottish Government activity alongside the development of a comprehensive indicator framework helps us to establish the baseline of our activity and of our Scottish food system. This is what we will assess future activity and monitor progress against.

We recognise that becoming a Good Food Nation will be a long journey and achievement may not always follow a straight path. However, this national Plan sets out the foundations for a new way of doing things, it is not without challenges; changing deeply embedded ways of working for a novel approach will mean adopting a different mindset when developing food policy and may not always be straightforward.

We are excited about the opportunities that progressing the Good Food Nation vision will bring for people and communities in Scotland. The national Plan, alongside the first generation of relevant authority plans, will set the scene for food system transformation in Scotland. There is much to learn and the independent advice and recommendations of the Scottish Food Commission will be of huge value as we progress this new way of working.

By monitoring progress through our comprehensive indicator framework and embedding systems thinking into policy development, we aim to tackle the complex, cross-cutting challenges within Scotland’s food system. This approach will enable us to create a fairer, healthier, and more sustainable food future for everyone in Scotland and build on the valuable work that has already been started by third sector, community bodies and other organisations.

The national Plan, alongside the first generation of relevant authority plans, sets the scene for food system transformation. Together, we can ensure that we are all working together to achieve our aim of Scotland becoming a Good Food Nation.