National Food Debate

We invite you to take part in Scotland’s flagship ‘National Food Debate’ ahead of the 2026 Scottish Elections.

With the publication of Scotland’s first National Good Food Nation Plan, continued pressure on household budgets, significant public health challenges and a farming sector under severe strain, food policy has become a defining issue for this election.

This pre-election hustings will see party representatives answer questions from a live audience from Augustine United Church in central Edinburgh and will be broadcast online to members of the public across Scotland. The session will be a mixture of pre-selected questions and questions from the audience on the night.

The debate, chaired by Vicky Allan, Environment Correspondent for The Herald,  will reach a highly engaged audience of voters, civil society leaders and food-system stakeholders in Scotland, with significant online reach beyond the room.

Who we are:
The Scottish Food Coalition is a diverse alliance of 70+ organisations working for a just transition to a fair, healthy, sustainable food system. Our members come from across the food system including those concerned with poverty, health, biodiversity, climate change and animal welfare, as well as trade unions, food producers and retailers, international development organisations and faith groups.

Established in 2015, we were instrumental in securing Scotland’s Good Food Nation Act and offer support and expertise to Scottish Government, local authorities and health boards during the journey to achieve our Good Food Nation ambitions.