In a newly published paper, Putting Scottish Food First, NFU Scotland is urging the Scottish Government to take action to put Scottish produce at the centre of public sector procurement - warning that the nation is missing a critical opportunity to support local farmers, crofters and growers.
The call comes in light of the Scottish Government’s first draft National Good Food Nation Plan, released earlier this year. Although the plan outlines an ambitious vision for healthier and more sustainable food, it fails to address a major lever for change: ensuring that public institutions - such as schools, hospitals and care settings - prioritise fresh, locally produced Scottish food. The Union recently raised the issue with officials and Minister Fairlie and hopes to see it reflected in the final Plan, which is due to be published soon.
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To explore the challenges of public procurement further, NFU Scotland convened a Procurement Roundtable with the Public Sector Catering Alliance in late November. The discussion focused on the barriers and opportunities surrounding local sourcing. Insights from that session, along with wider stakeholder feedback, have informed this set of recommendations.
NFU Scotland President Andrew Connon said:
"Public procurement should be a driver of better diets, stronger local economies and a more resilient farming and crofting sector. Right now, it isn’t. Scotland has the talent, the produce and the ambition - but without meaningful procurement reform, the Good Food Nation vision cannot be delivered."
Recent decisions, such as the withdrawal of long-standing local supplier contracts or movements to increase meat –free days, show an inconsistency across procurement processes and the potential to undermine local supply chains, directly contradicting the aims of the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2021. NFU Scotland has been engaging nationally and regionally on these issues, supporting petitions on school meal menus and working directly with MSPs, Ministers, local authorities and suppliers to highlight the importance of fresh, local produce for diets, food education, and local economies.
NFU Scotland is calling on the Scottish Government to implement a set of urgent reforms, including:
- Adopt a “Scottish First” policy for public sector food procurement to prioritise Scottish produce and weight local suppliers appropriately.
- Review contract award criteria to rebalance cost with quality, provenance, social and economic impact in line with the objectives of the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024.
- Mandate the annual reporting across the public sector on the value and origin of all food bought by the public sector.
- Increase catering budgets in line with inflation to ensure that schools, hospitals, and public institutions can access of high-quality food.
- Commit to reviewing “School Meal Regulations” so that fresh, local Scottish produce is included wherever possible, and Scottish sourcing applies to all free meals.
Andrew Connon added:
"Scotland’s farmers, crofters and growers stand ready to supply the nation with fresh, healthy, sustainable food. What we need now is clear political leadership and a procurement system that values Scottish produce, not just the cheapest option. Delivering a Good Food Nation must start with the food we serve in our own public institutions."
NOTES TO EDITOR:
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Contact Megan Williams on 07920 018619