Feeding the Interest - Community Food and Health

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The experience of local initiatives suggests there is potential to developa strong and well-supported local food sector in Scotland. However,taking action on local food involves more than local activity. It is apolitical issue which is influenced by local, national and internationaldevelopments. It is shaped globally through the World TradeOrganisation and within Europe by the Common Agricultural Policy.In Scotland, the policy agenda is clearly changing as a result of theForward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture iii which recognises the needto shorten the food supply chain.Discussion of local food issues is, therefore, timely.local foodkey questionsShould definitions of ‘localfood’ be for specific purposes,such as trading standards,farmers markets or supermarketlabelling?How can our food culturechange towards one whichvalues seasonality, localdistinctiveness and lessprocessed foods?Are consumers sufficientlyinformed about the health,quality, source and productionmethods of food so they canmake better informed choicesabout the food they eat?How can motivated anddedicated individuals besupported in their involvementin local food initiatives?8iiiiiLocal Food Routes: A summary report of Food Futures (2001) The Soil Association, Bristolwww.scotland.gov.uk/library3/agri/fssa-00.asp
economyAlthough it is difficult to measure the economic impact of the localfood sector on the economy, as many initiatives are small scale andgeographically scattered, experience indicates that there are benefits.The food industry – production, processing, manufacture, distributionand retailing – is important to the economy. Much of this activity is inrural areas and so is of special importance to the rural economy.Tourism is an important market for local foods with many farmsdiversifying and producing local food for the tourist trade. Connectingspeciality food to tourism and the quality restaurant sector, as in Skye& Lochalsh, is likely to benefit local economies.Food produced and sold locally usually reaches the final consumerthrough shorter marketing chains. When sold direct by the producerthere is greater scope for a larger proportion of the consumer’s poundto stay in the area rather than going to a producer or processorelsewhere iv .While adding value through local skilled processing, farmdiversification or using existing local markets for direct sales keepsmoney circulating for longer in local economies. Significant amounts ofproduce may be sold locally through farm gate sales, home deliveriesor farm shops. Economic potential may also lie in the integrity of theproduce itself – responsibly produced, community-supported andhealth-sustaining food.By using these local approaches, farms and other food producers maybe more viable and less likely to be affected by external forces such asdisease or currency fluctuation. This is also important for the survivaland development of smaller-sized farms.However, there are also economic barriers to supplying local food.These may include:9
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Page 4 and 5: introductionFood occupies a fundame
Page 6: summaryLocal food in Scotland impac
Page 12: • Limited resources for promoting
Page 15 and 16: EarthShareEarthShare, near Forres,
Page 17 and 18: KnowetopCommunityFarmKnowetop Commu
Page 19 and 20: case studyRenfrewshire Community Ga
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Page 23 and 24: further informationscotlandFSA Scot

Feeding the Interest - Community Food and Health

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