You have to approach this year’s Programme for Government with a big magnifying glass to find any meaningful proposals for food.
There is some good news for children. There is the long-planned expansion of the free school meals in primary schools, and a national breakfast club offer for all primary schools from August 2027. There is of course the Food Prices (Scotland) Bill – a laudable intention, though incredibly scant on details. The Scottish Human Rights Bill, a commitment made but not delivered in the previous parliamentary term, has been pushed forward to next year.
There is business as usual in agriculture, with emphasis on business – and government wishes for that to continue until 2031, despite the farming sector destroying Scotland’s biodiversity and contributing 20% to our climate emissions. There is some support for small producers: £1.5 million of capital investment, business support and advice. The same approach appears to apply to fishing, although there is a plan to consult on marine protected areas and priority marine features. There is some upside for nature, including creation of new woodlands and intention to restore peatland. However, the 10,000 hectare target for 2026-27 falls short of the average 28,000 hectares we need to be restoring to hit government’s own target of 400,000 hectares by 2040.
Community wealth building get only a cursory mention. Off the agenda are the familiar topics we’ve been working towards: Ending the Need for Food Banks, Population Health Framework, Scottish Organic Action Plan, Good Food Nation. In a blow to the Good Food Nation agenda, the Scottish Food Commission is incorporated into Food Standards Scotland. It’s hard not to see that as a demotion for this independent watchdog before it even got going.
Do not look for the Good Food Nation in this PfG, for it is not there. Sustainable, delicious, nutritious food does not matter to this government. But it matters to many of us. As Nourish we will be doing our bit to put it back on the table. Watch this space.