From Farm to Fork

Food is a vital resource to Scotland, fundamental not only to our economy but also to our health, environment and rural communities. And with some of the finest food and drink in the world on offer here in Scotland it is important that we harness and maximise the enormous value of our food industry.

The SNP Government realises this massive potential and has taken steps this week towards a national food policy for Scotland. The policy would boost jobs and businesses, help make food healthier and keep the environmental impact of food production to a minimum. It aims to join up every aspect of the government’s food policy from farm to fork. It would enable people to trace where their food has come from and promote more affordable, healthy food.

We in Banff & Buchan are well aware of the value of the food industry to our region. With a host of quality food establishments, numerous food processing outlets and a thriving agricultural sector, food means more to people of Banff & Buchan than a basic necessity – it is an integral element of the local economy. In fact food generates jobs at every level in our area, from the primary production level of fishing and farming to the food processing sector right through to the catering and service industry.

Food production and processing is worth £7.3 billion to the Scottish economy, £1.75 billion of which comes from agriculture. One need only consider the world renowned prime quality of Scottish beef for example to appreciate the value of the food industry. Scotland’s beef, lamb and pork industries contribute over £1500 million to Scotland’s annual GDP and support over 30,000 jobs in farming, agricultural supply and processing. Indeed I recently attended a Quality Meat Scotland event in the Scottish Parliament where I met with the organisation’s representatives and raised various issues of importance to the meat industry in Banff & Buchan.

This week the work towards the policy got off the ground as the Scottish Government launched a national discussion on a food policy for Scotland. I know that food businesses in Banff & Buchan have ample experience and knowledge to contribute to this discussion and I would encourage anyone with an interest in the sector to get involved and make their voices heard in the debate.

This is great news for Banff & Buchan, host to a vast number of food enterprises. A food policy would not only increase local jobs and advance the many small and medium size food-based businesses; it would also improve the quality of the food we eat. Why should we be importing so much poor quality food from countries that do not match our high quality standards when we boast such superb food here in our own backyard? I have always supported local produce and urged people in Banff & Buchan wherever possible to ‘buy local’. We must support local farmers markets and shops to enable them to keep operating and continue to provide such top-notch quality produce.

This food policy is a fantastically innovative initiative by the SNP Government and promises to reap huge benefits for rural Scotland. It would be the first policy of its kind in the UK and yet again, a demonstration of the SNP’s fresh thinking and ability to go its own way for the best interests of Scotland. It is time for Scotland to celebrate and profit from its many assets, of which fine food is just one.