Joanna Blythman says that Scotland’s terrain is unsuitable for crop growing but the country is “brilliant for red meat and dairy”

Going vegan would be disastrous for Scotland and lead to food shortages and hunger, according to an award-winning food writer.

Joanna Blythman, who has written seven books about the food chain, diet and ethical farming, claims that calls to phase out the meat and dairy industries are not supported by science.

Veganism is increasingly popular in Scotland, with more than 350,000 people saying that they no longer eat animal products. Another 750,000 are considering moving towards a plant-based diet, research suggests.

However, Blythman claimed that the vast majority of Scotland’s terrain was unsuitable for growing crops.

She said: “Do we really want to put ourselves in a situation where we turn our backs on the time-honoured, supremely nutritious foods that our land is best at