Food supply security must begin at home

SIR, – Your article headlined “Let’s push to keep it local” (The Press and Journal, July 11) is appropriate for emphasising the hazard of the UK being 60% reliant on food from abroad. Scotland also has the problem of Highlanders and islanders being reliant on distant supermarkets. The solution to becoming self-reliant for food rests not only with large Scottish farms, but also with the 18,000 crofts and small farms scattered around the sparsely populated north and west of Scotland.

Crofters, with the advantages of growing food on the best unpolluted land, need financial support jointly to exploit the land, water and air for farmed produce.

Recent Highlands and islands farmland “allotments”, provided by crofters and local communities for local enthusiasts, provide the greenest conditions for food production.

Government financial support for the large Scottish farms should be matched with support for the 18,000 crofts and small allotment holders.

Security for food supply begins at home.

Mark Pattinson, Brynaport, Kishorn, Ross-shire