First Minister Alex Salmond announced a new partnership between the Scottish Government and the SGF, at the SGF Conference in Glasgow yesterday.
The partnership is the first of several which will facilitate a transformation in Scotland’s relationship with food.
Salmond said: “Scotland has set out an aspiration to be a Good Food Nation. We are renowned worldwide for our thriving food and drink sector and fantastic products, but our levels of diet-related ill health and food wastage are also world beaters. We now must tackle that paradox.
“We have set out a vision that Scots from all walks of life should take pride in their food. It should be second nature to eat, serve and sell fresh, healthy, local produce.
“We are talking about nothing less than a transformation of our relationship with food. This will be a big task, taking a generation. It will need determination and a wide and active alliance for change.”
The First Minister also announced to delegates at Hampden Park in Glasgow that the Scottish Government would be appointing a Food Commission, and work with individuals and organisations from all parts of Scotland who are willing and able to champion this aspiration and drive forward change.
He added: “I can announce today that the first such partnership will be with the SGF. With members serving people from all walks of life in every corner of Scotland, they are ideally placed to propel us all forward on this journey. Over the next few weeks we shall be developing with the SGF the detail of this partnership, reflecting what both sides bring to the table. It will include developing together promotional material and activity, and recognising those SGF members who do the most to take forward the Good Food Nation agenda in their community and locality.”
