Transcript Nourish
Scotland – sustainable food nation? Nourish Scotland’s Sustainable Food Network What’s the problem? • Health – our diet is part of why we die young in Scotland • Climate change: food accounts for 25-30% of greenhouse gas emissions, and climate change threatens global food security (ASDA) • Inequality – household food insecurity, food banks • Ecosystem – we’re eating species, degrading soil, clearing forests and using fossil water We want to see a Scotland where… • We eat more of what we produce and produce more of what we eat • You can find healthy, local, seasonal, organic food anywhere in Scotland • Being interested in good food isn’t seen as posh • Everyone can afford to feed themselves and their family well • There is a diversity of thriving small food businesses How do we get there? • • • • Change what we eat Change how we farm Change local food economies Change policy change what we eat We should eat more veg, a lot more: like Germany • And less sugar • And less and better meat, with less soya in it • And less highly processed stuff, and watch out for palm oil and unsustainable fish • But we don’t have to cook everything ourselves • National and local government can lead through example and procurement • More people, communities and cities can grow some of their own food • Making all this socially acceptable is tough; preaching doesn’t work: ISM framework helps. Change how we farm • Zero carbon, natural capital enhancing, agroecological, resource use efficient • More small, mixed farms located in or connected to urban areas • Home grown protein, grass fed beef, dual purpose dairies, agroforestry • Respected profession, more women, CPD, support for new entrants • Subsidies for public good, not just ‘help to own’ change local food economies • Mixed economy of food – co-operatives and social enterprises in production, processing distribution, retailing, catering (cf housing) • Investment in short, resilient, low carbon supply chains as much as exports • Ensure local food ubiquitous in shops, schools, hospitals, cafes, events • Add value through local processing • Horizontal integration of public procurement to provide anchor change policy • At EU level: towards a common sustainable food policy, with public subsidies for public good • At member state level: integration of policies on health, equality, climate change, biodiversity, community empowerment, procurement, education, social enterprise, planning, local economy, R&D, use of subsidies etc to create sustainable food nation • At local authority/city level: engage communities and local public bodies in strategic approach with identified local leadership Current work • New farmer programme – training future farmers • Sustainable food cities work in Edinburgh and Glasgow • Advocating for policy change; more sustainable food procurement; a greener agricultural policy with a greater rural development focus and a planning policy that “does” food. • Surveying the local food economy Third sector challenges • Community-scale action - community food co-operatives, linked to community retail and community catering - Community growing, right to grow, urban farms - Community finance, food credit unions alternatives to food banks, community shares Care sector • More people receiving care and support at home or in residential settings than children at school • Lack of food/nutrition culture • Cultural change/skills agenda • ‘Good food’ commitment needed Environment sector • Need to join up climate change and biodiversity issues with food system • Largest source of ghg emissions and biodiversity loss • Opportunity for stronger food and environment coalition to make best use of RDP and press for change