Lochhead cooks up plan to improve Scotland’s health

policy puts food education at the heart of political agenda

By Joe Watson

Published:

LET’S GET COOKING: Richard Lochhead at a cooking event at the Royal Highland Show. Jim Irvine

Ambitious moves were unveiled yesterday to instill a greater pride in Scottish produce – and to use food to help boost the nation’s health.

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said his new food and drink policy would put food education at the heart of the political agenda to show consumers how they can make healthier and more environmentally-friendly options.

The strategy, unveiled at yesterday’s Royal Highland Show at Ingliston, Edinburgh, builds on Mr Lochhead’s vision to boost Scottish food and drink output from £7.3billion to £10billion within a decade.

It was welcomed by food and farming organisations as well as the industry itself.

But Mr Lochhead’s political opponents criticised him for not yet delivering a policy that has already been more than six months in the making.

Mr Lochhead said his policy aimed to put healthier ingredients from Scotland into the nation’s larders as well as improving cooking skills through a new “cooking bus” that will visit schools and communities.

He wants Scottish food to displace the vast array of imported foods on shop shelves. He is to review food labelling legislation to ensure that consumers are no longer misled by retailers on the origin of food.

The main retailers have separately agreed to hold a summit, led by First Minister Alex Salmond, in September at which they will discuss ways in which they can secure the long-term future of Scottish agriculture.

Mr Lochhead promised government and councils would use more Scottish produce in food sourcing contracts. He hopes that will be replicated in the private sector through a new campaign led by Michelin-star chef Martin Wishart.

A new food and drink leadership forum is being set up to drive forward Mr Lochhead’s plans. Separate efforts will be made to improve skills among food industry workers.

He has asked industry groups to find ways of improving logistics, cutting production costs and ensuring firms respond to growing consumer demands for quality and healthier products.

A new inquiry will also be launched to ensure food remains affordable in response to global price increases.

Mr Lochhead conceded the creation of the final policy was a huge challenge that required perseverance.

But Liberal Democrat MSP Jim Hume said: “After a year of wracking its brains, the Scottish Government has come up with another investigation and another inquiry.  This is not good enough. 

“Warm words will not give Scotland’s food producers the support they need during this difficult time of rising fuel and feed costs.”

NFU Scotland welcomed the “exciting and ambitious” proposals, but said the need for fair farm-gate prices that delivered farmers a return, immediate action to alleviate rising fuel costs, and a reduction in the regulatory burden a clear food labelling.

John Scott MSP, the Conservative spokesman for rural affairs and the environment, said “the jury is still out” on the government’s policy.

He said: “While I share the government’s aspirations, there are no real signs of delivery for an improved climate of production for the food and drink sector.”