Scottish Local Food News

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scottish local food news
News items more than three months old (most recent first news first).
	National Food Policy Responses Latest News Some responses to the Scottish Government’s discussion document on a National Food Policy – ‘Choosing the Right Ingredients – The Future for Food in Scotland’, can be seen at the following websites: Forward Scotland - http://www.forward-scotland.org.uk/Publications/Consultation-Food-Scotland.html Sustainable Development Commission – ‘The Right Ingredients’- http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/pages/scot_food.html National Farmers’ Union for Scotland press release - http://www.nfus.org.uk/news_detail.asp?newsID=1405&newsIndex=yes (15 May 2008)
	Scottish Allotments & Gardens Society AGM Latest News - This year’s SAGS AGM will take place on Saturday, 21 June 2008 in the Victoria Halls, Dunblane. Contact secretary@sags.org.uk for further details. (Source: Forth Environment Link) (15 May 2008)
	Allotments – What Are they Worth?Latest News Scottish Allotments & Gardens Society is conducting a survey into food grown in gardens and allotments across Scotland - what is grown and how much is harvested, the cost in terms of work and money, and how much space is needed for growing a crop. It will demonstrate the variety of produce that can be grown even in Scotland’s variable climate, and the amount of money that can be saved. To take part in the survey, visit the website at http://www.sags.org.uk/GrowingSurvey.php , and download the spreadsheet. (Source: The Propagator, Trellis).(15 May 2008)
	Growing Communities with Lottery CashLatest News The Big Lottery Fund has awarded a grant of £458,434 to the Growing Communities in Scotland partnership, to support the blossoming Scottish community garden and allotment network. The partnership – the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens, the Scottish Therapeutic Gardening Network (Trellis) and the Allotments Regeneration Initiative - will provide a fieldworker and mentor support, workshops, fact sheets, guidance and training to over 300 community, therapeutic and allotment garden projects. (Source: FCF&CG)(15 May 2008)
	Speak up for the Scottish Supply Chain Latest News Scottish Agricultural Organisations Society (SAOS) and Scotland Food and Drink, backed by Scottish Enterprise, are currently conducting a survey of people involved in the Scottish food and drink supply chain, to find out how they think the necessary level of collaboration can best be achieved. The survey is at http://www.saos.co.uk/news/news1.html. (Source: Scotland Food & Drink enewsletter, March 2008). (15 May 2008)
	First Minister Puts Scottish Produce First Latest News First Minister, Alex Salmond spent a week eating only Scottish food in a bid to raise awareness and promote Scottish food. http://www.rowett.ac.uk/institute/scottish_menus.html. (Source: Forward Scotland eBulletin, April 08). (15 May 2008)
	Food for Life Sourcing Update Latest News The Soil Association's Food For Life Sourcing document is being updated. The campaign specifies that school catering services work towards using 75% fresh and unprocessed, 50% local, and 30% organic ingredients. To add your details contact Lyn Matheson, Tel: 0131 666 0847, email: lmatheson@soilassociation.org. (Source: Lyn Matheson, Soil Association)(15 May 2008)
	Scotland’s First ‘Supermarket Summit’ Latest News Scotland's first Supermarket Summit of Chief Executives from all leading UK supermarkets and hosted by First Minister Alex Salmond, has been agreed in principle. The summit will discuss the role that retailers can play in promoting quality Scottish produce, reducing Scotland's food footprint and improving Scotland's health to help make Scotland greener, healthier and wealthier. Those agreeing in principle to attend are: Asda, Co-Operative, Morrison, Marks & Spencer, Sainbury's, Somerfield, Tesco and Waitrose. (Source: Forward Scotland Bulletin May 08, http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/04/21083028).( 15 May 2008)
	Supermarket Sweep-up Latest News The Competition Commission has made some recommendations to curb the powers of the UK's supermarkets. Among these recommendations are: the introduction of a stronger code of practice; the introduction of an ombudsman to intervene in disputes between suppliers and retailers, and advising local authorities whether to give approval for new supermarkets. (Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7247522.stm). Read the report at http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/inquiries/ref2006/grocery/index.htm. (15 May 2008)
	SPOTLIGHT ON….THE NATIONAL FOOD POLICY DEBATE Forth Valley Food Links has written a response to the Scottish Government's discussion document, 'Choosing the Right Ingredients - The Future for Food in Scotland'. The document proposes that a National Food Policy for Scotland combines all aspects of food: health, the economy, tourism, public procurement, the environment into a single policy. FVFL’s contribution to the discussion is influenced by the current and timely proposals to create a Scottish Climate Change Bill , the recent FAO report World agriculture: towards 2015/2030, Food Links UK’s Ramsbury Convention on Sustainable Food Systems (June 2007), and examples from FVFL’s past and present work as an exemplar project and demonstrator of local action in developing a sustainable local food system in Forth Valley. FVFL makes a number of suggestions and recommendations for action towards delivering a National Food Policy nationally and locally. FVFL's main recommendation is that a National Food Policy for Scotland must have sustainable development at its core as a means of securing a ‘wealthier & fairer, smarter, healthier, safer & stronger, and greener’ food future for Scotland, with a food system that puts Scotland’s ability to producing food for itself above all others. Read FVFL's full response here. (pdf 191 Kb) Read Morag MacKellar, NHS Forth Valley's Public Health Nutritionist's presentation on the background to the National Food Policy here. The deadline for responses has now passed. The Scottish Government is currently consulting the people of Scotland about a National Food Policy for Scotland that combines all aspects of food: health, the economy, tourism, public procurement, the environment into a single policy. The issue of food is one of the few topics that affects everyone, and as such, people are being urged to get involved in the debate about the future of Scotland’s food. The discussion paper “Choosing the Right Ingredients”, is available from the Scottish Government website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Food-Industry/Discussion or free from Blackwell’s Bookshop, 53 South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1YS email: business.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk. There are a number of ways to get involved in the debate by: 1. Attending the forthcoming Falkirk Food Network meeting, Wednesday, 2 April in Falkirk College (time to be announced). Contact Susan Kennedy, Community Food Development Worker on 01786 431171, mobile/text: 07881 503466, email: susankennedy2@nhs.net. 2. Attending the forthcoming Clackmannanshire Food Network meeting on Friday, 4 April (time and venue to be announced). Contact Debbie Ross, Community Food Development Worker on 01259 724324 or mobile 07881 1502838, email: Deborah.ross@nhs.net. 3. Completing the on-line web form at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations/health/foodfuture.asp. 4. Taking part in the on-line food blog at www.scotland.gov.uk/food. 5. Writing to the Scottish Government at The Food Discussion, Room 256, Pentland House, 47 Robb’s Loan, Edinburgh, EH14 1TY. 6. Emailing the food team at food@scotland.gsi.gov.uk. 7. Calling 0131 244 6223. 8. Organising a local or regional event relating to the future of food in Scotland. Community Food & Health (Scotland) is offering £500 to anyone who would like to organise an event, to pay for venue hire, childcare, or other expenses to promote participation. Contact CFHS by 28 February 2008 at cfh@scotconsumer.org.uk or tel: 0141 226 5261. 9.Attending a free national event for those working in food and health activities in low-income communities on 18 March at the Piping Centre, Glasgow. Applications by booking form only from www.communityfoodandhealth.org.uk/, to be received by 4 March 2008. The closing date for all responses to the Scottish Government on the National Food Policy Debate is Friday, 25 April 2008. Read more about why Scotland needs a sustainable food policy at the Sustainable Development Commission for Scotland’s website at www.sd-commission.org.uk/pages/scot_whyfood.html. Concurrently, the UK Government's Strategy Unit, in partnership with others, is undertaking a study of food and food policy in the UK, to look at current and emerging trends in the production and consumption of food, their key drivers and implications for the wider economy, society and the environment. For details visit: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/strategy/work_areas/food_policy.aspx. (Source: CFHS, SDCS). (4 March 2008)
	Revision of Food Standards Agency Guidance: Criteria for the use of the terms Fresh, Pure, Natural etc in Food Labelling The Agency is now seeking to issue improved guidance by making the changes set out in this consultation. The guidance sets out legislative requirements relevant to misleading labelling, as well as best practice advice on the use of the terms. http://www.food.gov.uk/consultations/consulteng/2007/freshpurenaturaleng07 (31 October 2007)
	Feed Hygiene Standards Hit the Road in Scotland The Food Standards Agency Scotland is running a series of seminars to explain what the European feed hygiene regulation will mean for feed businesses, livestock farmers and arable farms growing and selling crops for feed, and what they will need to do to meet the requirements from January 2008. http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2007/nov/feedhygieneseminars (31 October 2007)
	Consultations • Food Standards Agency Guidance on Clear Food Labelling (Scotland) - http://www.food.gov.uk/consultations/consultscot/2007/clearfoodguidescot07 • Food Standards Agency Consults on Impact of Manures for Food Safety - http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2007/sep/manureguid • Action Plan for Health and Wellbeing, Better Health, Better Care: A Discussion Document - Scottish Government want to hear your views - http://www.fhascot.org.uk/faha/175.html
	Localfoodshop Localfoodshop is an online trading platform for small producers, and is now open for producers, shops and hubs to enter their profiles and products. The website works like a virtual farmer’s market. Customers browse the different pages, and then place an order and pay online. www.localfoodshop.co.uk.
	Low Income Diet Survey Research published by the Food Standards Agency shows that the gap between the diets of people on low incomes and those of the rest of the population is not as wide as some feared. http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2007/jul/lowincome.
	Scottish Food Security This is tipped as the next hot topic in the coming months and years. With drought then floods, Foot & Mouth, and fluctuating grain and milk pricing, farmers want the Government to pay attention to food security. (Source: Scottish Farmer, 28 July 2007).
	Soil Association Price Data A new addition to the Soil Association’s website is price data covering different types of agriculture and commodity prices. It can be found under the food and farming section under market info, eye on market at: www.soilassociationscotland.org
	'Towards a low footprint Scotland' A publication that Includes the role that food contributes to Scotland’s Carbon Footprint. www.wwf.org.uk/
	UK Organic Supply Fails to Keep Pace According to the Soil Association, supplies of UK organic food are failing to keep up with demand and could limit future growth. (Source: Planet Ark, http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/44067/story.htm).