TAKING STOCK AFTER 7 YEARS OF CAMPAIGNING FOR A GOOD FOOD NATION BILL
Why have we spent years pushing for a new law to be introduced? We knew that our food system was in trouble, and that a robust legislative framework could help fix the interrelated issues that affect it. We believe in a whole-system approach, one that connects the dots between agriculture, public health, climate policy, planning, workers' rights and animal welfare.
We campaigned for a Good Food Nation Bill that would enable a coherent and connected approach to food policy, and facilitate a just transition to a fair, healthy and sustainable food system.
If you’ve read our previous blog, What happened to the Good Food Nation ambition?, you will know that it has not been smooth sailing... So, now that the Good Food Nation Bill has come into law, what's the score?
Click here for our response to the Bill - and our hopes for the next steps.
Why have we spent years pushing for a new law to be introduced? We knew that our food system was in trouble, and that a robust legislative framework could help fix the interrelated issues that affect it. We believe in a whole-system approach, one that connects the dots between agriculture, public health, climate policy, planning, workers' rights and animal welfare.
We campaigned for a Good Food Nation Bill that would enable a coherent and connected approach to food policy, and facilitate a just transition to a fair, healthy and sustainable food system.
If you’ve read our previous blog, What happened to the Good Food Nation ambition?, you will know that it has not been smooth sailing... So, now that the Good Food Nation Bill has come into law, what's the score?
Click here for our response to the Bill - and our hopes for the next steps.
Why did we campaign for an independent Food Commission?
- Good governance requires independent oversight:
A statutory body, independent of Government, can give us a true picture of the whole system. Free from political pressures, it can inform us about what we already do well and what needs to improve - Multi-faceted problems require a whole-system approach:
The problems affecting the food system in Scotland are many, and multi-faceted. Becoming a Good Food Nation and meeting people’s needs in a sustainable, fair and healthy way requires a whole-system approach - one that ensures healthy, nutritious food is affordable while protecting workers’ rights, improving animal welfare and minimising our climate and environmental footprint. We believe a Food Commission can play an important role in guiding everyone responsible for producing food plans (national government, local authorities, and health boards), and making sure these plans are all working in harmony to improve the food system. - Similar independent commissions have already been set up to tackle complex issues in Scotland:
The Scottish Government has established Commissions to address other complex issues, such as the Scottish Land Commission, Social Security Commission, Poverty and Inequality Commission or the Just Transition Commission. We also needed an independent, statutory body to be established for the food system.
The Good Food Nation Act: background information
To find out more about the Good Food Nation Act, please explore the following reports and documents from the Scottish Food Coalition:
Reports:
Discussion Documents:
Other Documents:
Reports:
- (2022) A Good Food Nation for Scotland: Why and How (click here for access to all references)
- (2021) Election Hustings Report
- (2020) Campaigns Report
- (2018) Kitchen Table Talks Report
- (2016) Plenty: Food, Farming and Health in a New Scotland
Discussion Documents:
- Food and the Environment
- The Right to Food
- Animal Welfare
- Food and Health
- The Need for Allotments and Community Growing
Other Documents:
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