Scots manufacturers call on policy makers to back them

Infrastructural constraints in Scotland must be lifted if business

Scotland's food policy must deal with some serious infrastructural constraints, if it is to have a healthy future, the industry has warned.

Policy must embrace stakeholder partnerships, fuel economic development, plug the skills gap and promote business growth alongside sustainability as top priorities, said the Scottish Food and Drink Federation (SFDF).

These core areas have been highlighted by the SFDF in a submission to the Scottish government. The paper was a response to the public consultation on Scottish national food policy, which was launched on January 15 and closed on April 25.

In a statement on its submission, the SFDF said it was calling for a shared vision and partnership approach. "The success of a national policy depends on acknowledging that a community of interest can exist between government, consumers, industry and others working together to develop a shared vision," it said.

"It is important for the Scottish government to take a lead with stakeholders in promoting the development of sound policy on sustainable food production and consumption that is based on social, environmental and economic dimensions."

The organisation said in promoting economic growth, a core focus for the Scottish government should be "addressing infrastructural constraints on growth, encouraging innovation and better regulation"

Under the heading People and skills, the SFDF said the Scottish government "must put in place an educational framework to ensure an adequate supply of appropriately skilled people to match the workforce needs of business"

Raising awareness of the industry as a career destination of choice through Skills Development Scotland, the Scottish Funding Council and the Enterprise Network was also key, said the SFDF.

On the environment, it said: "The Scottish government needs to take steps to ensure the physical infrastructure in Scotland is capable of achieving business growth in a sustainable way."

The SFDF has been contributing to Scotland's national food policy since January and has contributed to the Scottish Parliament's Cross Party Group on Food.

The Scottish government plans to make a statement on the direction of travel of its national food policy at the Royal Highland show in June.

The SFDF said: "We anticipate being involved in further discussions on the detail of the national food policy and an action/implementation plan thereafter."

The SFDF's submission also urges the Scottish government to incorporate drink as well as food into national policy.