The spread of COVID-19 and the resulting lockdown across the country has dramatically changed many things, including the work of the Scottish Food Coalition. As a result of this crisis, the Good Food Nation Bill will not be introduced in the 2019/2020 parliamentary term. It is entirely right that the civil service, Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament prioritise legislation to protect lives and navigate the complex challenges facing the nation.
Whilst we recognise that this is a necessary decision by the Government, our calls to policy action which should underpin the bill have never been more relevant.
Food bank usage has surged – by up to 300%. In the meantime, we have seen dairy farmers dumping gallons of milk, fishing boats have been tied up and thousands of people have lost their jobs with the closures of restaurants and hotels (read more about this here). Many of these challenges – though more acute now – are not new. The Scottish Food Coalition has been broadcasting about our broken food system for many years now. And while the full effects of the outbreak are yet to be seen, the fact that food lies at the centre of many of them is clear. It is also clear that many of these problems were not created by the current crisis but exacerbated by it. These exceptional circumstances have brought into sharp relief the essential role of food, and the food system in each of our lives.
Whilst we recognise that this is a necessary decision by the Government, our calls to policy action which should underpin the bill have never been more relevant.
Food bank usage has surged – by up to 300%. In the meantime, we have seen dairy farmers dumping gallons of milk, fishing boats have been tied up and thousands of people have lost their jobs with the closures of restaurants and hotels (read more about this here). Many of these challenges – though more acute now – are not new. The Scottish Food Coalition has been broadcasting about our broken food system for many years now. And while the full effects of the outbreak are yet to be seen, the fact that food lies at the centre of many of them is clear. It is also clear that many of these problems were not created by the current crisis but exacerbated by it. These exceptional circumstances have brought into sharp relief the essential role of food, and the food system in each of our lives.
During the crisis the Coalition are focussed on gathering evidence. Evidence not just of the challenges facing the food system, but also of examples of food system resilience - where people have adapted and communities have come together to support each other. We will gather this evidence and share it with policy-makers, making a stronger case than ever for investing in a fairer, healthier and more sustainable future for Scotland's food system.
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We want to hear from you. We need your help to get a full picture of the impact of this crisis on the ground: have you seen shortages in food supplies; have you seen food businesses struggling with closures or lack of staff; have you seen more people getting involved in growing their own food; have you seen more people buying locally?
Send us 100-200 words + 1 picture or a 1-1.5 min video on your experience of the crisis and its impact on the food system. To send us your written story, please use the form to the right, or send it directly to [email protected] If you would like to share a video, then please send it directly to [email protected] You may want to answer one or two of the below questions:
We’ll collect and publish your stories about the outbreak and the food system and share them with policy makers. When this crisis is over, your stories will bring to life how weak and unjust our food system really is, and how important it is to invest in a fairer, healthier and more sustainable future. |
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