Publication - Strategy/plan

Proposed National Good Food Nation Plan

Published: 27 June 2025
From: Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic: Building, planning and design, Communities and third sector, Environment and climate change, +3 more … Farming and rural, Health and social care, Marine and fisheries
ISBN: 9781836917205

The proposed national Good Food Nation Plan has been laid before the Scottish Parliament. It sets out over-arching Outcomes; the range of targets and indicators used to gauge progress towards achieving them; and details of food-related policies and initiatives from across the Scottish Government.

Supporting documents

Part Four – Food-Related Policies

The Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 requires that the Plan sets out the policies that the Scottish Ministers intend to pursue in order to secure the achievement of the Outcomes set out in Part One.

This section of the Plan showcases that the Scottish Government is already implementing many policies that contribute towards securing our Good Food Nation ambitions. This is the first Good Food Nation Plan: it establishes a baseline that will enable us to adequately understand the current position.

The Scottish Ministers (and, in practice, the policy officials who act on their behalf) are required to have regard to this Good Food Nation Plan when exercising functions specified in secondary legislation (see page 18 for a fuller explanation of specified functions). This Part of the Plan is designed to assist in that process.

We have listed the Scottish Government’s food related policies and cross-referenced each individual policy area with the Outcome(s) that it contributes towards. We also provide links to relevant documents to simplify the task of finding detailed information.

This approach means that policy officials will easily be able to establish the Good Food Nation Outcome(s) to which their particular policy area contributes, whilst also quickly identifying other policy areas that support those same Outcome(s). This will encourage policy officials to make links with other areas and foster a collaborative approach to policymaking.

We have organised the policies and actions into three categories based around key groups in the food system: People and Communities; Providers and Places; and Farmers, Food Producers and Processers.

Of course, not all policies will fall neatly into one of these categories. However, we believe that organising them in this manner emphasises that achieving a Good Food Nation requires action across the food system. Our policies now, and going forward, will identify key areas of action to help everyone in Scotland play their part in the Good Food Nation.

People and Communities

This section sets out policies that are targeted at individuals and communities. These are policies that focus on improving individual situations and securing better access to healthy and sustainable food.

Scotland can only become a Good Food Nation with the participation and co-operation of those who live and work here. The ultimate aim is to help to make Scotland a better and more prosperous place for everyone: a place where people are happy, healthy, and secure. The policies outlined in this chapter are steps towards achieving all our Good Food Nation Outcomes and making them a reality.

Our vision is that everyone living in a Good Food Nation will have reliable and dignified access to safe, nutritious, affordable, enjoyable, sustainable, and age-appropriate food.

People will benefit from a sustainable food system that plays a role in improving biodiversity and treats animals with care. People can enjoy good food locally and will be able to make well-informed decisions in relation to their food.

Best Start to Life in A Good Food Nation

Summary of policies

To support, promote and protect breastfeeding by legally safeguarding the right to breastfeed and bottle feed infants up to the age of 2 years in public places; by supporting the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland national scheme; by providing guidance to health boards and local authorities on actions they can take to improve breastfeeding experiences and the duration of breastfeeding; and by supporting the implementation of the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative across NHS settings and in communities to help us to make progress towards our target to reduce drop-off in breastfeeding rates at the 6 to 8 week point by 10% by 2025.
To support parents and childcare providers to make informed choices about children’s diets through the provision of guidance such as Setting the Table, which provides guidance around food provision in early learning and childcare settings, and the Parent Club website which gives advice directly to parents and carers.
To improve access to healthy foods and milk, Best Start Foods provides pregnant people and families with children under the age of three who receive certain benefits with a minimum of £5.40 a week via a pre-paid card to buy these items. The payment doubles from birth until a child turns one to support breastfeeding mothers or help with the costs of providing first infant formula milk.
To establish good oral health care habits from an early age (pre-school, nursery and primary school) through the Childsmile programme with its focus on regular toothbrushing, application of fluoride varnish in the 20% most deprived areas, dietary advice and general dental practice registration for prevention and intervention.
To embed the Eat Well for Oral Health programme to positively influence lifestyle behaviours and socio-cultural norms across individuals, families and disadvantaged communities, particularly those associated with diet, by linking with third sector partners empowering people living in vulnerable circumstances; helping people to make informed food choices; and enhancing cooking skills.

These policies will support our target to halve childhood obesity by 2030 and significantly reduce associated diet-related health inequalities supporting work on implementation of the Population Health Framework.

Policy / Policy Area: Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 1
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Policy / Policy Area: Early Nutrition and Diet

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

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Policy / Policy Area: Best Start Foods

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

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Policy / Policy Area: Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 1
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Policy / Policy Area: Children’s Oral Health

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 1
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Provision of food in Early Learning and Childcare in a Good Food Nation

Summary of policies

To provide a daily portion of fruit or vegetables and milk or a specified non-dairy alternative to all children attending regulated preschool childcare settings, for 2 hours of more, which participate in the Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme.
To provide all children in funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) with a free, healthy, nutritious meal in their ELC setting for every day they attend.
To provide guidance to ELC settings to ensure children are offered nutritious meals, snacks and drinks at ELC settings whether funded or paid for.

Provision of food in Schools in a Good Food Nation

Summary of policies

To ensure that children and young people are provided with balanced and nutritious food as part of their school day in order to support healthy growth and development. The Scottish Government seeks to improve the nutritional quality of diets of children and young people and to promote heathy eating habits by setting nutritional standards with which schools must comply.
To provide free school meals to all pupils in Primaries 1-5, all pupils in special schools, and eligible pupils from P6-S6. To continue with the expansion of free school meals to all primary school pupils, starting with pupils in P6 and P7 whose families are in receipt of Scottish Child Payment, and the establishment of a test of change in 8 local authority areas for pupils in S1-S3 whose families are in receipt of Scottish Child Payment.
To ensure children continue to receive support to access food outwith term time through continued funding for alternatives to free school meals during holiday periods.

School Age Childcare in a Good Food Nation

Summary of policies

To encourage integration of food provision across school age childcare, wherever this is appropriate, to help to address food insecurity in a rights-based, dignified and stigma-free way. The Scottish Government is funding a range of work across Scotland through our childcare Early Adopter Communities, Scottish Football Association 'Extra Time' Programme, and Access to Childcare projects which includes consideration of the importance of provision of food within school age childcare settings.
To expand access to breakfasts clubs across Scotland by creating more free places for primary school children over the 25/26 academic year, delivered through the £3m Bright Start Breakfasts fund. The funding will be used to provide access to a healthy and nutritious breakfast for children and enable early drop-off for working parents.
To ensure clarity around the food standards that must be met within school age childcare settings, including breakfast clubs, whether provided on or off school premises. The Scottish Government will work with the Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland, sector representative bodies and service providers to improve understanding and awareness.

Policy / Policy Area: Early Leaning and Childcare Meal Provision

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

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Policy / Policy Area: School Meal Provision

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

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Education (Scotland) Act 1980

Policy / Policy Area: School Age Childcare Food Provision

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 1
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Education for a Good Food Nation

Summary of policies

To educate children and young people about food through the Curriculum for Excellence. The Health and Wellbeing curriculum content is an entitlement of all children aged 3 to 18 in Scotland and includes learning about food and health. Learning and teaching is designed to help learners develop their understanding of a healthy diet, understand the role of food within social and cultural contexts and develop awareness that food practices and choices depend on many factors including availability, sustainability, season, cost, advertising, and the media.
The Scottish Government also supports the provision of food-related education by funding specific targeted initiatives and projects, including the Royal Highland Education Trust’s programme of farm visits for schools and the Royal Environmental Health Institute for Scotland’s Food and Health/Food and Hygiene courses.

Policy / Policy Area: Food Education

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 1
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Access to food for all in a Good Food Nation

Summary of policies

To reduce the number of children living in poverty in Scotland through wide-ranging action by implementing our Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, This includes ‘Best Start, Bright Futures’, covering the period 2022-26, which sets out action to increase household incomes and reduce the costs of living through continued investment in, for example, the Scottish Child Payment, employability services, free bus travel for all under 22s, and our Affordable Housing Supply Programme. A further delivery plan for the period 2026-31 will be published by the end of March 2026.
To promote cash-first responses to financial hardship, reducing the need for emergency food aid in line with Cash First: Towards Ending the Need for Food Banks in Scotland, and to ensure that, where cash support is not appropriate, any direct food aid is provided in a manner that maximises dignity.
To ensure that everyone in Scotland has access to the food that meets their needs, preferences and supports their wellbeing, our policies on access to food also contribute to our commitments to:
- Reduce the number of households facing moderate to severe food insecurity
- Reduce the reported number of households accessing emergency food provision.
- Improve access to food for households living in remote rural areas.
- Improve access to food that is appropriate for households from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Policy / Policy Area: Household Food Insecurity

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 1
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Policy / Policy Area: Tackling Child Poverty

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A Healthy Diet in a Good Food Nation

Summary of policies

To improve the quality of the Scottish diet and encourage the people of Scotland to follow a healthy diet through implementation of actions under the Population Health Framework, by giving children the best start in life, making the food environment support the provision of healthy options, and by improving access to effective weight management services.
To support consumers to achieve a healthier diet in line with the Scottish Dietary Goals and the Eatwell Guide, through the provision of clear and practical dietary guidance such as the Eat Well, Your Way. Acknowledging the social, cultural and environmental influences on food choice, Eat Well, Your Way offers tips and advice on how to make small manageable changes that can be sustained. The resource is aimed at lower income populations, including adults and families, who are often most in need of support.
The Eating Out, Eating Well Framework seeks to improve access to a healthy diet out of home through a new voluntary framework to support outlets in the provision of healthier menus, including for children.
These policies will help us in achieving our commitments to reduce diet-related health inequalities and increase levels of healthy weight across the population in line with the Population Health Framework.
To support messaging on positive oral health behaviours and promote oral health self-care to the 95% of the population currently registered with a dentist in Scotland through the recently reformed payment structures for General Dental Services, which now includes prevention and lifestyle advice, including on diet and nutrition.

Policy / Policy Area: Healthy diet

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

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Policy / Policy Area: Mental Wellbeing for Adults

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 3

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Mind to Mind | NHS inform

Policy / Policy Area: Eating Disorders

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 3

Links to any relevant documents or legislation:

National Review of Eating Disorder Services: report and recommendations

Policy / Policy Area: Women’s Health

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 3

Links to any relevant documents or legislation:

Women’s Health Plan

Policy / Policy Area: Oral Health

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 1
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Oral health improvement plan - gov.scot

Increasing Access to Land for Communities

Summary of policies

We will empower and encourage people to discover and take advantage of the wide-ranging benefits which can come from growing their own food in allotments and other community growing sites by providing funding to third sector organisations.
We aim to make more land available for community growing and to enable more people to access growing sites and allotments by supporting local authorities meet the legislative duties regarding allotments imparted by Part 9 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.
To contribute to an increase in community ownership, the Community Right to Buy review aims to recommend improvements to existing processes. It will ensure that proposals for the right to buy are aligned with policy development on land reform, asset transfer and other mechanisms that enable community ownership. The review will consider any changes to the provisions from the Land Reform Bill, ensuring that there is a consistent approach.
To help enable more communities to access suitable land, including for allotments and community food growing purposes, we will continue to provide support to communities to use Community Right to Buy, including through the Scottish Land Fund.
To help community bodies have additional options to buy land and to give them more of a say in how land is used, the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill will ensure communities have advance notice of potential sales from large landholdings and will ensure large landowners engage with communities on their plans for their landholdings.

Policy / Policy Area: Allotments and Community Growing

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Policy / Policy Area: Community Right to Buy Review

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

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Community Rights to Buy

The wider impacts of food choices

Summary of policies

To help reduce food waste for people and communities, we will work with Zero Waste Scotland to guide long-term work on household food waste reduction behaviour change by 2026/27, focusing on a test of change and improvement approach. This policy will support us in achieving the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) pledge to halve food waste by 2030.

Policy / Policy Area: Circular Economy

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 2
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Policy / Policy Area: Climate Change

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 1
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Providers and Places

Providers in this context is defined as those who supply food to other people in a variety of settings. This section therefore includes policies on public sector food provision; retail; restaurants; and similar. It also includes any policies that influence what is made available to the public in these settings, such as school food regulations.

Providers have an integral role to play in providing good food to the people of Scotland. They will continue to take active steps to improve their menus to offer healthy and sustainable options.

The Scottish Government is pursuing a range of policies that support and encourage the provision of safe, nutritious, affordable, enjoyable, sustainable, and age-appropriate food in public and private settings.

These policies contribute towards strengthening the healthy eating habits of the people of Scotland.

Local Food for Everyone in a Good Food Nation

Summary of policies

The Scottish Government’s local food strategy, “Local Food for Everyone: Our Journey” brings together strands of work that support the local food agenda via three pillars: connecting people with food, connecting Scottish producers with buyers and harnessing public sector procurement.
The Scottish Government provides funding for the Soil Association’s Food for Life programme, which aims to increase the amount of healthy, locally sourced food served by local authorities in public kitchens. In addition to this programme, funding is given to support a range of community growing organisations who encourage and teach people how to grow their own food as well as providing and improving green spaces where communities can come together to grow food.
Our continued support for the Scottish Grocers Federation “Go Local” programme is helping to transform convenience stores with dedicated display space for locally produced food and drink.
By supporting national campaigns run by Scotland Food and Drink, the Scottish Government helps to showcase and raise awareness of the range of Scottish produce and products.
The Scottish Government recognises that public procurement plays a key role in ensuring everyone has access to healthy, fresh, seasonal food. We are using legislation and policies to maximise the impact procurement can have for public bodies and the Scottish economy.^[54] For procurement contracts related to food, public bodies are required to provide a statement that outlines how food provision may improve the health, wellbeing, and education of communities in the authority’s area and promote the highest standard of animal welfare.
The Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, proposes a range of opportunities to increase the quality and provenance of food and drink procured.To promote local and sustainable produce public bodies have the flexibility to:
- Design menus that include Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) food.
- Specify food produced according to recognised assurance schemes, e.g. Quality Meat Scotland, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Red Tractor, RSPCA, or equivalent bespoke company systems.
- Specify free range and organic food.
- Specify requirements based on menu plans that are based on freshness and high nutritional value using food in-season and flexible and frequent delivery times.
- Divide contracts into small product lots and geographic areas to encourage the active participation of local businesses where it is proportionate to do so.
- Introduce a facility on some frameworks to enable small manufacturers who do not have national delivery logistics in place to bid on a supply only basis.

Policy / Policy Area: Local Food for Everyone

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

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Local Food for Everyone: Our Journey

Policy / Policy Area: Public Procurement

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Policy / Policy Area: Food for Life

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

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Food For Life Scotland

Prioritising Good Food in the Public Sector

Summary of policies

To ensure that the people of Scotland have access to balanced and nutritionally appropriate food in Scottish public institutions and to support and promote healthy diets and eating habits the Scottish Government seeks to ensure good nutritional care in all care settings. This includes hospitals and care homes. This nutritional care is delivered through the Health and Social Care Standards, which emphasise the importance of healthy meals and snacks, including fresh fruit and vegetables and choice based on personal preferences and cultural and dietary needs, and beliefs. The Food in Hospitals Guidance provides the specification for food and fluids provided in Hospitals.
To support the healthy growth and development of our children and young people and to promote healthy habit setting, all food and drink served in schools must meet the standards set out in the school food and drink regulations.

Policy / Policy Area: Food and Drink in Schools

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

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Policy / Policy Area: Food and Drink for sale in Hospital and Local Authority sites

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Policy / Policy Area: Food and Drink for sale in Hospital and Social Care

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Good Food Out of the Home: eating out and purchasing food

Summary of policies

To encourage and help food outlets to provide healthier options to customers eating out of the home to support achievement of the Scottish Dietary Goals via the Population Health Framework, which is supported by actions contained within the Diet and Healthy Weight Implementation Plan. These will improve the food environment by progressing actions on the provision of nutrition information to consumers, including a code of practice for Children’s Menus.
To encourage retail businesses to demonstrate a commitment to Fair Work principles by requiring public sector grant recipients to pay their workers at least the real Living Wage and provide appropriate channels for effective voice, Fair Work First has been applied to over £2.6 billion worth of public sector grants, between July 2023 and March 2024.
To support implementation of the National Planning Framework 4 approach to non-retail outlets: development proposals for non-retail uses will not be supported if further provisions of these services will undermine the character of amenity of an area or the health and wellbeing of communities, particularly in disadvantaged areas. These uses include hot food takeaways, including permanently sited vans.
To legislate to restrict the promotion of food and drink that is high in fat, sugar or salt where they are sold to the public. This policy aims to reduce the public health harms associated with the excess consumption of calories, salt, sugar and fat.
To promote Scotland’s high-quality food and drink as part of our tourism and hospitality offer by providing funding to Scotland Food and Drink.

Policy / Policy Area: Retail Policy

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 4

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Policy / Policy Area: Diet and Healthy Weight – Out of Home Action Plan

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

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Policy / Policy Area: Tourism Fair Work First

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

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Reducing Waste in a Good Food Nation

Summary of policies

To help reduce food waste by providers, we will work with stakeholders to help develop effective options to implement mandatory public reporting of food waste and surplus by businesses, using the powers provided in Section 22 of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024. Details will be set out in secondary legislation.
In addition to legislative tools, we will support WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) UK’s Food and Drink Pact and work with other partners to encourage businesses to take voluntary action to tackle food waste, promoting sustainable approaches to sectors across the food and drink industry.
These actions will support us in achieving the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) pledge to halve food waste by 2030.

Policy / Policy Area: Circular Economy

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 2
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Farmers, Food Producers and Processors

The Farmers, Food Producers and Processors section contains policies that are directed at those who grow, rear, catch, or harvest food, as well as those who manufacture and process food stuffs.

We have a range of transformative programmes under way that will inherently change how we produce and process food in Scotland: we are on a pathway to make all our food production activities on land and sea more sustainable.

High-quality, nutritious food which is locally and sustainably produced is key to our wellbeing – in economic, environmental, social and health terms. In a Good Food Nation, producers and processors will take an active role in contributing to a sustainable food system. Their choices will have a positive to neutral impact on the environment and biodiversity. Their actions will help to mitigate climate change and they will have adapted to any existing and future changes. Their produce will form an important part of food consumed across Scotland and it will be easy to find Scottish produce in restaurants, canteens and shops. Scottish products will continue to have an international reputation for excellence and quality. Scottish producers will be visible in their communities and provide welcoming places of employment. Jobs in the Scottish food and drink production sectors will operate to fair work standards.

The Land

Summary of policies

To transform support for farming and food production in Scotland by using Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 powers to introduce a four-tier support framework that delivers our Vision for Agriculture to position Scotland as a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture. The Act requires the Scottish Ministers to publish a Code of Practice on Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture and a Rural Support Plan. This plan must have regard to the outcomes in the national Good Food Nation Plan.
To set out our policies and proposals in the next Climate Change Plan for 2026/31 on how our agriculture sector will continue to play its part in meeting our ambitious net zero national target. They will ensure farming in Scotland continues sustainably into the future and delivering for our Vision for Agriculture to become a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture while producing high-quality nutritious food for the nation.
To help farmers undertake actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change and restore nature, as set out in the Agricultural Reform Route Map. The Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) is expected to continue until 2026 to deliver elements of Elective support ahead of the launch of Tier 3 in 2027.
Through AECS and the future support framework, we are continuing to provide financial support to farmers and crofters who wish to start or continue to manage their land under organic standards. We will also, in conjunction with Scotland Food and Drink, implement an Organic Action Plan to encourage sustainable expansion of the organic market in Scotland. All these actions support our commitment to seek to double the amount of land used for organic farming in Scotland by end of this parliamentary term (2026).
To continue to support and encourage crofting and small-scale agriculture, in line with the National Development Plan for Crofting, through the Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme, which aids and develops agricultural production on croft businesses, and the Croft House Grant which provides assistance towards crofter housing, enabling crofters to live on and work their croft, whilst generating economic activity in our rural and island areas. Through crofting law reform, we are looking to streamline administrative processes; enable active crofting; introduce immediate positive outcomes for crofters and their communities; and enable the Commission to better regulate the crofting system.
To have a support framework that delivers high-quality food production, climate mitigation and adaptation, flood resilience and nature restoration in line with the Climate Change plan, the Scottish National Adaptation Plan, and the National Flood Resilience Strategy. To also support the achievement of the existing legally binding annual emissions reduction targets to achieve net zero emissions by 2045.
The support framework will also help to achieve the high-level goals of our Strategic Framework for biodiversity to be nature positive, halting biodiversity loss by 2030 and regenerating biodiversity by 2045, including, specifically, that:
- Farmland practices will have resulted in a substantial regeneration in biodiversity, ecosystem and soil health and significantly reduced carbon emissions while sustaining high quality food production.
- Management of deer ranges, grouse moors and upland agriculture will contribute to the regeneration of biodiversity in upland areas.
Activities in these areas will also help us to achieve our international commitments to address biodiversity loss, articulated in the Global Biodiversity Framework of the UN Convention on Biodiversity, which includes targets relating to reducing the global footprint of consumption, global food waste, overconsumption and waste generation.
To support communities to adapt to coastal change we published guidance for Local Authorities on the development of Coastal Change Adaptation Plans; the Coastal Change Adaptation Fund has provided almost £12 million in funding to support this work.
To manage water resources during periods of prolonged dry weather, SEPA implements Scotland’s National Water Scarcity Plan working closely with water abstractors to monitor the situation and support those affected.

Supporting new entrants and smaller producers

Summary of Policies

To provide support for the next generation of rural workers in Scotland, we are offering the Farm Advisory Service Mentoring Programme, the Land Based Pre-apprenticeship Programme (announced May 25, £1.8 million support over 3 years, offering just under 400 graduate places) and the Next Generation Practical Training Fund which can provide bespoke, tailored training (announced in May 25, £900,000 over the next 3 year, anticipating 2,000 applicants).
We are also prioritising capital funding through the Future Farming Investment Scheme (£14 million).
The Scottish Land Matching Service helps to broker joint-ventures. In addition, the Farming Opportunities for New Entrants Group is helping to push the need for authorities holding public land to provide more opportunities for new entrants (8K hectares to date).
To promote better use of Scotland’s agricultural land, we will work with the Tenant Farming Commissioner, whose functions are set out in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016, to encourage prosperous relationships between tenants and landlords throughout Scotland’s farming sector.
The Small Producer Pilot Fund and provisions in Part 2 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill to modernise small landholding legislation will provide more opportunities for smaller producers and new entrants to be enabled to produce more food for their communities and the market.

Policy / Policy Area: Agricultural Policy

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Policy / Policy Area: Climate Change and Agriculture

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Policy / Policy Area: Organics

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

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A Fairer, Greener Scotland: Programme for Government 2021-22

Policy / Policy Area: Crofting

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 2
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Crofting: national development plan

Policy / Policy Area: Venison sector

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

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Beyond the Glen – A strategy for the Scottish Venison Sector to 2030

Policy / Policy Area: Coastal change, water scarcity and flooding

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 2

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Policy / Policy Area: New Entrants to Farming

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

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New Entrants to Farming

The Seas

Summary of policies

To ensure that our fisheries and seafood sector is a sustainable part of our economy by implementing the Fisheries Management Strategy, which contains a 12 point action plan intended to deliver sustainable and responsible fisheries management in Scotland.
To progress the achievement of the Scottish Government’s long-term aspirations for the finfish, shellfish and seaweed farming sectors, and the wider aquaculture supply chain, as set out in the Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture. The Vison outlines high level aims as to how the sector is recognised by 2045 and sets out a range of outcomes which would support delivery of those aims.
To improve the sustainability and resilience of our inshore fisheries, we will progress our Inshore Fisheries Management Improvement (IFMI) Programme. This is a 2025/2026 Programme for Government Commitment which seeks to develop a more agile approach to inshore fisheries management with co-management and communities at its heart.

Policy / Policy Area: Fisheries Management Strategy

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Policy / Policy Area: Seafood trade

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Policy / Policy Area: Sustainable aquaculture

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Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture

Policy / Policy Area: Inshore Fisheries Management Improvement Programme

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 2
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Inshore Fisheries Management Improvement Programme: Call for evidence

Animal Welfare and Plant Health

Summary of policies

To maintain and increase our high standards of animal welfare by:
- Consulting on the phasing out of farrowing crates for pigs;
- Exploring options for how to best to set welfare standards for farmed fish and publishing guidance on welfare at time of killing in salmon farming;
- Analysing and publishing the results of the consultation to phase out cages for laying hens;
- Commissioning the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC) to explore the feasibility of developing indicators of animal welfare for farmed animals;
- Continuing to support awareness of higher welfare methods of castration and tail docking of lambs;
- Updating regulations on the lifting and carrying of poultry following the recent consultation on this.
Safeguarding plant health in Scotland to enhance and protect Scotland’s rural economy and natural environment. To do this, the new Scottish Plant Health Strategy 2024-2029 was published on 6 November 2024 setting out the Scottish Government’s 5-year plan to improve plant health in Scotland by:
- Continuing to invest in plant health via Scottish Government RESAS Division’s Strategic Research Programme and Plant Health Centre, to assess the opportunities to utilise research, innovation and technology to fill knowledge gaps and strengthen biosecurity;
- Improving engagement with stakeholders, including the creation of a Scottish Plant Health Standing Committee with government, industry, and NGOs by summer 2025 to promote best practice and to grow and utilise plant health networks across sectors and communities to improve plant health awareness, buy-in, and resilience;
- Promoting responsible plant sourcing, including stakeholder initiatives such as the Plant Health Certification Scheme, and improving biosecure supply chains across industry sectors by exploring procurement options associated with Scottish Government funded projects.

Policy / Policy Area: Animal Welfare

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 2
Outcome 6

Links to any relevant documents or legislation:

Animal health and welfare strategy

Policy / Policy Area: Plant Health

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 2
Outcome 4
Outcome 6

Links to any relevant documents or legislation:

Supporting Scotland’s Food and Drink Industry

Summary of policies

To support and champion Scotland’s food and drink industry by providing funding to and working with the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership, a unique partnership of industry and the public sector which nurtures, supports and champions the people and products of Scotland’s food and drink industry. Our long-standing support for this partnership helps to ensure that food and drink producers have the resilience, capability and capacity to put food on shelves for consumers.
Our support for Sustaining Scotland: Supplying the world - The Industry led food and drink strategy is building the foundations for sustainable growth and driving demand for growth. It sets out a ten year plan to make Scotland to be the best place in the world to own, operate, and work for a food and drink business with a clear mission for Scotland to be renowned as a world leader in sustainable production and responsible growth, where resilient businesses across the entire supply chain can flourish and prosper.
To provide specific support to Scottish Development International (SDI) to deliver the work of the Scotland Food & Drink Export Plan. This plan helps to enhance the reputation of our natural larder, and to sustain and create markets for Scottish produce abroad.
To provide funding for the Food and Drink Federation Scotland to support their Reformulation for Health Programme. The programme works with Scottish manufacturers to encourage them to reformulate their products to make them healthier.

Policy / Policy Area: Food and Drink Industry Support

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 4
Outcome 6

Links to any relevant documents or legislation:

Sustaining Scotland. Supplying the World. A strategy for Scotland’s food and drink industry.

Ensuring the implementation of policies is informed by the views of the food business sector

The views of the food business sector on the implementation of both the policies set out in this Plan and any relevant policy to be included in future Plans will be taken into account through a variety of means. There will be regular engagement with Scotland Food & Drink, the Food and Drink Federation Scotland, and working groups such as the Food Sector Resilience Group, the Public Sector Food Forum and the Procurement Supply Group, where stakeholders will have the opportunity to provide their views on policies and policy implementation, amongst other things. These regular discussions will play an important role in gathering the views of the food business sector on an ongoing basis. In addition, the sector will be invited, as required, to respond to consultations on the formulation of individual polices. When consulting on individual policies we will encourage policy teams, where not already the case, to include questions seeking the views of the food business sector on effective policy implementation. This range of engagement with the food business sector will ensure their views are taken into account.

Strategic and Overarching Policies

This section covers the wider strategic programmes and policies that were discussed in Part 2 of the Plan, on page 19.

Policy / Policy Area: Just Transition

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 1
Outcome 2
Outcome 4

Links to any relevant documents or legislation:

Policy / Policy Area: Community Wealth Building

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 1
Outcome 2
Outcome 4
Outcome 5

Links to any relevant documents or legislation:

Policy / Policy Area: Human Rights

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 1
Outcome 2
Outcome 3
Outcome 4
Outcome 5
Outcome 6

Links to any relevant documents or legislation:

Only the international instruments listed at Section 5(2) of the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 are listed above.

Policy / Policy Area: Planning

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 1
Outcome 2
Outcome 3
Outcome 4
Outcome 5

Links to any relevant documents or legislation:

Policy / Policy Area: Biodiversity

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 2
Outcome 6

Links to any relevant documents or legislation:

Scotland’s Strategic Framework for biodiversity

Policy / Policy Area: Environment

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 2
Outcome 6

Links to any relevant documents or legislation:

The Environment Strategy for Scotland: vision and outcomes

Policy / Policy Area: Fair Work

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 4

Links to any relevant documents or legislation:

Policy / Policy Area: Food safety, standards and public health nutrition

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 1
Outcome 3

Links to any relevant documents or legislation:

Policy / Policy Area: International Trade

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 6

Links to any relevant documents or legislation:

Policy / Policy Area: Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC)

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 1
Outcome 3

Links to any relevant documents or legislation:

Getting it right for every child

Policy / Policy Area: Population Health Framework

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 3

Links to any relevant documents or legislation:

Population Health Framework

Policy / Policy Area: Land Reform

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 1
Outcome 2
Outcome 4
Outcome 5

Links to any relevant documents or legislation:

Policy / Policy Area: National Marine Plan

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 2
Outcome 4

Links to any relevant documents or legislation:

Scotland's National Marine Plan - gov.scot

Policy / Policy Area: Vision for Agriculture

Linked Good Food Nation Outcome(s):

Outcome 1
Outcome 2
Outcome 3
Outcome 4
Outcome 5
Outcome 6

Links to any relevant documents or legislation:

Statement on Vision for Agriculture

Conclusion

This, the first national Good Food Nation Plan, is a big step on our journey to taking a systems approach to the development of food policy. The Scottish Government is already doing many good things in relation to food but we know that the traditional process of policy making can often lead to a disjointed approach. There has been a lot of interest over many years from government and stakeholders about adopting a food systems approach, and a desire to do this was the basis of our Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022.

This Plan sets out the foundations for a new way of doing things, setting out ambitious Outcomes and a document that signals to policy officials where they can be working together to achieve the vision of Scotland as a Good Food Nation. The scale of this change in working practice should not be underestimated; breaking down silo working will take time as this innovative approach is put into practice. The Scottish Government has taken on board the need for a new and different way of doing things. This is not without challenges; changing deeply embedded ways of working for a novel approach will mean adopting a different mindset to developing food policy. However, the Scottish Government has often demonstrated its ability to adapt and flex, and this Plan will guide the process of taking on a new way of working and developing food policy in a coherent and joined-up way.

This, the first generation of a Plan to take a food systems approach, will guide these conversations and contribute to the work being undertaken across the Scottish Government to rise to the challenge. This is an exciting and pivotal step in realising the work to make Scotland a Good Food Nation but it is only the first step; future generations of the Plan will continue to provide the steer towards achieving our Outcomes and reinforce the aspiration of a taking a systems approach to the development of food policy. The food system cannot be fixed without this change.

The Scottish Government looks forward to undertaking this journey and taking on the challenge of a totally new approach to our development of food policy. There is much to learn and the independent advice and recommendations of the Scottish Food Commission will be of huge value as we progress with this new way of working.

Contact

Email: goodfoodnation@gov.scot

Thanks for your feedback

Information

Part Four – Food-Related Policies

People and Communities

Best Start to Life in A Good Food Nation

Provision of food in Early Learning and Childcare in a Good Food Nation

Provision of food in Schools in a Good Food Nation

School Age Childcare in a Good Food Nation

Education for a Good Food Nation

Access to food for all in a Good Food Nation

A Healthy Diet in a Good Food Nation

Increasing Access to Land for Communities

The wider impacts of food choices

Providers and Places

Local Food for Everyone in a Good Food Nation

Prioritising Good Food in the Public Sector

Good Food Out of the Home: eating out and purchasing food

Reducing Waste in a Good Food Nation

Farmers, Food Producers and Processors

The Land

Supporting new entrants and smaller producers

The Seas

Animal Welfare and Plant Health

Supporting Scotland’s Food and Drink Industry

Ensuring the implementation of policies is informed by the views of the food business sector

Strategic and Overarching Policies

Conclusion

Contact