SDC – National Food Policy

The Right Ingredients presents evidence and recommendations to the Scottish Government to help create a sustainable National Food Policy.

It shows how food production and consumption are intrinsically connected with our environment, economy and society – the three 'pillars' of sustainable development. These pillars must be addressed simultaneously, rather than through separate policy initiatives, if progress is to be made towards the Scottish Government's five strategic objectives.

The Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) is the Government's independent advisory body on sustainable development. The SDC reports to the Prime Minister and First Ministers of Scotland and Wales, and the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland. Established in 2000, the SDC is chaired by Jonathon Porritt and comprises 19 Commissioners supported by a Secretariat based across the UK. Our Scottish team is based in Edinburgh.

The SDC's main recommendation is:
Sustainable development should be the overarching framework for the National Food Policy.
To achieve this goal the Scottish Government should address the following key issues.
To avoid confusion and misunderstanding of their goal the Scottish Government should develop a definition of sustainable food. The definition should:

• ensure safe, healthy and nutritious food for consumers in shops, restaurants, schools, hospitals etc

•provide a viable livelihood for farmers, processors and retailers, whose employees enjoy a safe and hygienic working environment, whether in the UK or overseas

•respect biophysical and environmental limits in its production and processing, while reducing energy consumption and improving the wider environment. it also respects the highest standards of animal health and welfare, compatible with the production of affordable food for all sectors of society

•support rural economies and the diversity of rural culture, in particular through an emphasis on local products that keep food miles to a minimum

•meet the needs of less well-off people.

The Scottish Government should develop a code of practice for fair supply chains. Encouraging fairer supply chains within the food system would provide the opportunity to increase social justice, community cohesion and environmental sustainability.

Any future policy must include action to help meet the target of an 80% cut in emissions by 2050. Therefore it is essential that the Scottish Government develops a strategic plan for greenhouse gas emissions across the whole food supply system, including:

• developing a long-term vision for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from farming. and implementing policies to support farmers and the food supply chain in finding appropriate solutions to agricultural and food waste, including the use of anaerobic digestion

•highlighting the risks of carbon emissions and opportunities for sequestration, and conducting research on emissions reduction for the Scottish Government's forthcoming discussion of land use

•The Scottish Government must take forward its commitment to zero waste by:

o working with SEPA and WRAP to ensure a consistent approach on waste and resource efficiency across the supply chain

o working with retailers, manufacturers and others to develop initiatives to reduce packaging and food waste

o working with willing local authorities to increase recycling and phase out single-use plastic carrier bags

• encouraging a move from road to rail distribution of food and the development of local supply chains.