The production and consumption of food is essential to sustain life yet in the 21st Century this is still dominated by methods that are fundamentally damaging to the long term survival of our species.� A society that embraces the principals of sustainable development recognises that the current system is unsustainable. There is an opportunity to reduce climate change impacts, protect biodiversity whilst supporting local economic activity through the greater availability of local food. The paper discusses the proposition that local food has a significant contribution to make in supporting local economic activity, providing jobs and stability in local� communities and reducing Scotland's carbon footprint therefore making progress towards a more sustainable future.�