The Taskforce has been created to help increase the amount of Scottish food served in public institutions. NFU Scotland chief executive John Davidson will jointly lead the group with non-profit organisation ASSIST FM. The Union wants its involvement to deliver practical actions that open up more opportunities for Scottish farmers, growers and food producers.
NFU Scotland said its participation would focus on securing realistic recommendations to expand the role of Scottish produce in public sector catering and food procurement.
Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands Jim Fairlie said: “It is great to have the Public Sector Food Procurement Taskforce up and running to help identify and address any barriers that are currently preventing the public sector from sourcing more locally produced food, supporting greater use of Scottish produce in settings like schools and hospitals.
“Bringing together producers, processors, caterers, and procurement specialists, I have asked the Taskforce to focus on practical, deliverable recommendations that strengthen local food procurement, support local economies and reduce food miles. This will help strengthen Scottish supply chains and contribute to our ambitions for a Good Food Nation.
“I have asked NFUS and ASSIST FM to co-chair future meetings, bringing their expertise as producers and buyers of high-quality Scottish produce to bear, and I look forward to working with the Taskforce to ensure more people can benefit from fresh and nutritious produce, and that our fantastic food and drink sector continues to thrive.”
Taskforce shows “recognition” of public procurement impact on food sector
John Davidson said the launch of the Taskforce represented “welcome recognition” of the influence public procurement can have on Scotland’s farming and food sectors.
Davidson commented: “NFU Scotland called for the establishment of a Taskforce in our Election manifesto and we therefore welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to establishing this and putting resource behind an area which has significant potential for Scottish agriculture and our wider food and drink sector.
“Every year, significant sums are spent providing food in our schools, hospitals and other public institutions. It can support Scottish farmers and food producers, strengthen local supply chains and provide high-quality food to people across the country.
“The establishment of this Taskforce is a positive step. What matters now is that its recommendations are practical and lead to more Scottish food being bought and served across the public sector.”
“If we can increase the amount of Scottish food served in our public institutions, that supports our farmers and growers, our rural economy and our food and drink sector.”
Davidson continued: “NFU Scotland set out eight asks on public procurement last year because we know there are barriers which make it harder than it should be for Scottish produce to find its way onto public-sector menus.
“We want to see greater weight given to quality, provenance and the wider social and economic value of Scottish food, rather than decisions being driven too heavily by price. We also want much greater transparency around what the public sector is buying and where that food comes from, alongside catering budgets that reflect the real cost of putting fresh, high-quality food on the plate.
“There is a real opportunity here to make public spending work harder for Scotland. If we can increase the amount of Scottish food served in our public institutions, that supports our farmers and growers, our rural economy and our food and drink sector, while providing high-quality food for the public.
“I look forward to co-chairing the Taskforce and working constructively with the Scottish Government, ASSIST FM and others to turn that opportunity into practical action.”
NFU Scotland published eight proposals in 2025 aimed at increasing public sector purchasing of Scottish produce. The recommendations covered giving greater priority to local suppliers, improving reporting on food provenance, boosting catering budgets and examining the regulations governing school meals.
