Why Fair Trade Voices Matter in Scotland’s Good Food Nation Plan 

The Scottish Parliament has recently consulted on the proposed Good Food Nation Plan, which aims to set a vision for a food system that is healthier, more sustainable, and fairer for all. Scottish Fair Trade has submitted a response because we believe that the food choices made in Scotland should not only support wellbeing here at home but also contribute positively to communities and producers across the world. 

Why we responded 

Fair Trade is fundamentally about justice in global food systems. Farmers and workers in the Global South are on the frontlines of both the climate crisis and economic inequality, yet too often Scotland’s food policies overlook the impact our consumption and procurement decisions have on them. The Good Food Nation Plan is an opportunity to change this. 

We were also keen to show solidarity with our colleagues in the Scottish Food Coalition, of which we are proud members. The Coalition has called for stronger, more meaningful indicators in the Plan and for public food procurement to set higher standards. We echo these calls, while highlighting that Fair Trade offers a clear, practical way to deliver on Scotland’s ambitions for food justice, locally and globally. 

Where we think the Plan needs strengthening 

Public health and wellbeing 

Fair Trade supply chains don’t just deliver high-quality products. They also ensure that producers benefit from fair pay, safe working conditions, and reduced exposure to harmful chemicals. Recognising Fair Trade in health and social care procurement would show that Scotland’s food system is concerned with health equity at home and abroad. 

Local government & procurement 

Local councils, schools, hospitals, and care homes have significant purchasing power. We believe the Plan should: 

• Include Fair Trade and WFTO-certified goods in sustainable procurement standards (e.g., tea, coffee, cocoa, sugar). 

• Track indicators such as: 
  • % of local authority food spend on Fair Trade goods 
  • Number of public bodies sourcing Fair Trade products 
  • Volume/value of Fair Trade goods in public food services. 

• Provide support for councils to integrate Fair Trade into tenders, in line with Scottish Food Coalition calls for stronger ethical sourcing criteria. 

Community growing & education 

Allotments and community gardens are often focused on local produce, but they can also be powerful places for global citizenship education. We suggest the Plan encourage projects that connect local food growing with learning about global food systems, Fair Trade, and climate justice, including small grants to support this. 

Global food systems (Outcome 6) 

We are most concerned about Outcome 6 in the Plan, which aims to show that decisions made in Scotland contribute positively to global food systems. At present, the indicators are inadequate: 

• Sub-outcome 6A reduces global impact to a question of Scotland’s food reputation. 

• Sub-outcome 6B has no indicators at all, despite its focus on Scotland’s positive contribution to global food system transformation. 

We propose that the Government: 

• Introduce Fair Trade procurement indicators (see above). 

• Fund an annual Kantar Worldpanel survey to measure Fair Trade product purchasing in Scotland, an evidence-based recommendation from the 2025 ‘Fair Trade Nation’ report. 

• Ensure indicators measure real-world impact rather than Brand Scotland perceptions, echoing the Scottish Food Coalition’s wider call for accountability. 

Measuring what matters 

For Scotland to be a genuine Good Food Nation, our policies must reflect not just how food is consumed and celebrated here, but also the impact our choices have on people and the planet globally. Fair Trade provides an existing, practical way to measure and deliver on those ambitions. 

We hope the final Plan will seize this opportunity to put Scotland’s values of fairness, sustainability, and justice at the heart of our food system, both locally and globally. 

Louise Davies, 21 August 2025