Farmers in row with Fife Council over message on climate change

Farmers and food producers in Fife have criticised Fife Council for encouraging people to cut down on meat and dairy products.

The local authority posted the message on Facebook at the weekend - in an attempt to highlight issues around climate change and the impact on the environment:

This caused fury among local farmers across the Kingdom, who feel the post is misleading.

Angela Mill, who works on a farm in Kirkcaldy, believes its down to a lack of education:

But Peter Ritchie from Nourish Scotland says it isn't unreasonable asking people to have a think about they're eating:

The local authority's service manager Ross Spalding said: "Fife Council declared a climate emergency in September 2019.

"As part of our climate awareness raising campaign, we're encouraging people to think about what they eat and where it comes from.

"Significant greenhouse emissions are linked to food production and distribution globally.

"The debate we are seeing on our social media is part of the wider conversation taking place nationally and internationally and it's good to stimulate discussion and raise awareness of these important issues.

"So, we're asking people who wish to reduce their impact on climate change to consider their food choices and encouraging people to buy locally produced food and support our local food producers."