scottish government renews commitment to gfn bill

Today, the Scottish Government published its 2019-2020 Programme for Government, which clarified the intention to propose a Good Food Nation Bill this year. The Scottish Food Coalition (SFC) welcomes news of this commitment in light of the many challenges that the food system is facing. 

However, we encourage Scottish Government and elected representatives to ensure this bill will join-up food policy, for example through an ambitious national food plan and the creation of a Food Commission to drive progress towards a healthier, fairer and more sustainable future.

Read more about our ambitions for the Good Food Nation bill below, we believe each of these are essential in our journey towards more coherent, effective, and just food policies:

1. Incorporate the right to food in Scots Law: ensure that every person in Scotland has access to affordable, healthy and sustainable food.
2. Establish a statutory food commission for Scotland: a commission would ensure that policies that touch on food are coherent and consistent with becoming a Good Food Nation, and would be able to commission research and issue recommendations.
3. Publish a National Food Plan: a plan would outline cross-government approaches to food, outlining where our food system can be part of the solution to multiple challenges.
4. Place duties on public bodies to lead the way in becoming a Good Food Nation through their policies and strategies, for example on procurement.
5. Set national targets for the food system.

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• All workers in the food sector paid at least the living wage and included in collective bargaining agreements by 2025 at the latest.
• Halving of moderate to severe household food insecurity by 2030
• Halving childhood obesity by 2030
• Halving the environmental impact of the food system, including halving food waste by 2030

The SFC and its members are looking forward to working with decision-makers and stakeholders on an ambitious bill that will bring about these much-needed changes for Scotland’s society and environment. ​

Read the full programme for government here.

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