Hugh Raven on Scotland’s National Food Discussion

Last Friday I went to listen to Hugh Raven talk about Scotland’s National Food Discussion (and what the ensuing national food policy might look like) at the Centre for Environmental Change and Sustainability at the University of Edinburgh. Raven is the director of the Soil Association Scotland and a commissioner for the Sustainable Development Commission, an independent advisory body to the UK Government. The National Food Discussion, which was launched earlier this year (see coverage here) received praise from Raven as an attempt to formulate a coherent policy on one of the most important issues for sustainable development – the food we eat, and as a strong attempt to engage the public with an aspect of sustainability which is so tangible and relevant to everyday lives, saying:

“You can’t find a better issue to illustrate the need for a sustainable development approach than food”

Raven continued to highlight the importance of moving towards a more sustainable food system in Scotland, taking care to emphasise equally the environmental, social and economic imperatives behind this new policy direction. While some of the environmental and economic advantages to a more sustainable food system might be easily apparent, Raven also emphasises the social and cultural elements of a sustainable food system, and added that “Hopes are that the Scottish Government will have the courage to engage with the cultural side of food”.

The National Food Discussion was initiated in response to:

“an emerging consensus that a national policy would help ensure a more joined-up approach to food in Scotland, covering every part of the food chain from farm gate to plate.”

The response from Scotland’s public and food producers has been encouraging, and the original date for the minister’s report has now been delayed, a move which Raven suggested reflects Richard Lochead’s realisation of the complexity of tying these multiple policy strands together. We can however expect an ‘indicative statement’ on how the policy is shaping up following the public discussion late in June 2008.

That leaves plenty of time to get involved in the formation of Scotland’s new Food Policy (those of you living north of the border..). Click on the report above (the girl with the carrot is in charge of the policy discussion), and let the Scottish Government know what you want from the new policy (the website is here).

One comment during Hugh Raven’s talk resonated a little with some of the preliminary research I’m working on right now. When describing the massive quantities of carbon locked up in Scotland’s soils and the risk of its release when land use changes or when land is badly managed, Raven said:

“Farmers and land-users have a massive responsibility to keep this carbon in the soil”

While I agree with this statement on a straightforward level – indeed it highlights how we rely on farmers and land-owners for stewardship of the countryside – there’s another element which I find problematic: the idea that farmers, land-users – individuals are the ones with the responsibility to ensure sustainability. Similar ideas are expressed by the trend towards ensuring a choice of food products, from which consumers can’t make responsible choices of local, fairtrade, organic products – whichever they choose. This emphasis on personal/individual responsibility is important, but equally important is not to forget the responsibility of the Government to play their part in moving towards more sustainable systems. And this is what’s so encouraging about the Scottish Government’s move towards a more sustainable food system – let’s hope they do, as Raven said, have the courage to make the broader structural changes which will be necessary to compliment the ‘responsible choices’ made by farmers, land-users and consumers.