Adapting to change in our food system

Our food system today is fast-changing and full of innovation, and global events have shown how easily it can be disrupted. In order to protect the people of Scotland from any risks that may arise from these changes, we need to stay alert to what’s changing, why it matters, and how it affects the food we eat.

This requires us to track consumer attitudes and behaviours relating to food, and commission research to understand their perceptions around changes to our food system, including their views on the potential benefits and concerns around risk. It also requires us to keep a close eye on global trends, including the new technologies and digital tools which are being used in food production, the impacts of new policies that govern our food system and how food safety risks are affected by a changing climate.

Reports on surveys we have funded (or co-funded with FSA) include:

Interests, needs and concerns around food: the public's view in Scotland

This report presents key findings from a comprehensive review of public interests in food carried out in Scotland.

The research covers the key food interests the public would like to see represented and protected on their behalf - particularly in relation to food hygiene and safety, and diet and nutrition, but also more widely.

The majority of the findings emerging from Scotland are broadly similar to those across the rest of the UK.

Interests, needs and concerns around food: the public’s view in Scotland

Food and You 2 Survey: Scotland (Wave 8) Key Findings

This report presents the key findings from the Food and You 2 Wave 8 survey carried out in Scotland. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been running the survey in England, Wales and Northern Ireland since 2020. In Wave 8, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) collaborated with the FSA to enable, for the first time, a sample of consumers in Scotland to be included in the survey. Food and You 2 measures consumers’ self-reported knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to food safety and other food issues amongst adults across the UK.

Food and You 2 Survey: Scotland (Wave 8) Key Findings

New breeding technologies (NBTs) consumer research

This research examines consumer awareness and attitudes to new breeding technologies (NBTs) in foods. We commissioned JRS to carry out qualitative research with consumers in Scotland.

The research objectives were to explore:

consumers’ views and attitudes to different terminology
perceived risks and benefits
the level of regulation that consumers want
this research aims to build on previous joint survey research carried out by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and FSS which examines consumer attitudes to precision breeding. It does this by providing further in-depth insights from qualitative research with consumers in Scotland.
New breeding technologies (NBTs) consumer research
Survey of public attitudes towards precision breeding | Food Standards Agency

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Adapting to change in our food system

Adapting to change in our food system

Interests, needs and concerns around food: the public's view in Scotland

Food and You 2 Survey: Scotland (Wave 8) Key Findings

New breeding technologies (NBTs) consumer research