Defining 'high quality' for food production: Evidence review

3 Results

No specific definition for the term ‘high quality’ relating to food or commodity production was stated in any of the policies and legislation reviewed.

However, multiple themes in conjunction with ‘high quality’ were identified through the search. These included: animal welfare, nutrition, protecting environments/ biodiversity, food safety, social needs of communities, economics, and emission targets (Table 2).

Animal welfare, nutrition, and environmental sustainability (including protecting the environment and emission targets) were the most common themes used when referring to high quality production and food.

3.1 Scotland

In Scotland, five texts were found in the initial snowballing methodology, and four texts were found in the FAOLEX database, that related to high quality food production. However, none of these defined the term in a meaningful way.

Animal welfare is referenced to in the Scottish context. The Animal Health and Welfare in the Livestock Industry Strategy states that “high standards of animal health and welfare in the livestock industry are one of the foundation stones of Scotland’s reputation for high quality and ethical produce” (Scottish Government, 2016).

The Strategy for Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Research states “high quality agricultural products …. are known for their provenance and quality”, and “[the goal is] to create resilient, sustainable, high quality crop production systems [to] support the rural economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, food security and the circular economy” (Scottish Government, 2021a). Referencing a specific product, the Scottish Common Agricultural Policy Non IACS Support Schemes states that there are “rules for the management of a tariff quota for high-quality beef” but no clear definition is provided (Scottish Government, 2015).

The term ‘high quality’ was used in the public consultation of the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill. Respondents were asked whether they “believe the new Agriculture Bill should include a mechanism to enable payments that support high quality food production”. Despite financial support being proposed, no definition was provided. In the analysis of these responses, “79% of respondents agreed that the new Agriculture Bill should include a mechanism to enable payments that support high quality food production, while 6% disagreed”. There was a consensus among responders that “high quality food production is inevitably more costly, and support is therefore more likely to be needed” (Scottish Government, 2023d).

3.2 United Kingdom

In the UK government food strategy, high quality products “support healthier diets” and result from “sustainable, nature positive and affordable food systems” (DEFRA, 2022). Additionally, the ‘Health and Harmony: the future for food, farming and the environment in a Green Brexit’ report suggests there cannot be a uniform definition as “producing high-quality food… is defined by the surrounding landscape and by investment potential” (DEFRA, 2018a).

3.3 European Union

Similarly in European policies, there was a lack of definition found within the texts. The European action plan for the development of organic production states that “high quality food [should be] produced in a way that respects the environment and ensures animal welfare” (European Commission, 2021). In the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on organic production and labelling organic products, “observance of high standards for health, the environment, and animal welfare in the production of organic products is intrinsic to the high quality of those products” (European Union, 2018).

In some instances, the factors contributing to ‘high quality’ produce were outlined. For instance, the European Farm to Fork Strategy states that “high quality [food] is the result of years of EU policymaking to protect human, animal and plant health, and of the efforts of farmers, fishers and aquaculture producers” (European Commission, 2020). Similarly, the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing rules on support for strategic plans under CAP states that “[high-quality production benefits from] a modern, competitive, resilient and diversified agricultural sector” (European Union, 2021).