Brian Whittle MSP has accused the Scottish Government of failing to recognise the success of Scotland’s food & drink industry.
During a debate at Holyrood, the South Scotland MSP said the Scottish Government was too slow to celebrate the sector’s achievements and too quick to criticise farmers over CO2 emissions.
The Scottish Conservative MSP has been a long-time advocate for greater use of local public procurement for school and hospital meals and argues that not only would this benefit the health of pupils and strengthen the local economy, but also benefit the environment by reducing the distance ingredients travel from field to fork.
Brian also highlighted the concerns from within the Scottish fishing industry about the appointment of Lorna Slater MSP as a Minister. The Green MSP, one of two who have joined the government as part of their coalition deal with the SNP, has previously said she wanted to close down the Scottish salmon farming industry, despite admitting that she didn’t even know where the farms were.
During the debate, Brian used East Ayrshire Council, who source almost three quarters of their ingredients for school meals locally, and have recently signed a deal with Mossgiel Farm in Mauchline to supply milk to all East Ayrshire schools, as an example of what can be achieved.
Brian Whittle MSP said:
“Scotland’s food and drink sector is one of our great success stories, but all too often it doesn’t get the recognition or support it deserves.
From individual stories like Mossgiel Farm, or We Hae Meat in Girvan, who have innovated and diversified their farms to great success, to the wider efforts of farmers to reduce their carbon emissions and protect the environment, there’s a lot to be proud of.
It’s disappointing that the Scottish Government instead seem unable to offer our farmers and food producers the support they need to build on that. Both the NFUS and WWF have criticised the Scottish Government for moving too slowly to help farmers plan for a low-carbon future.
The SNP are full of warm words for Scotland’s farmers and the wider food & drink industry, but they need to start turning those words into actions or we risk missing out on some big opportunities to grow the economy, protect the environment and secure the future of Scottish farming.”
