SCOTLAND is set to become one of the first countries in the world to appoint a national chef to help reverse the obesity crisis and champion native cuisine.

The new state-appointed role, which would be unpaid, will be charged with trumpeting the virtues of nutritious food as well as acting as an ambassador for the industry.

The concept of a national chef has been mooted in the SNP manifesto to be published next week.

If the party returns to power as expected, the search will begin to find the most worthy culinary candidate.

The news will spark speculation as to who might take the role.

Shirley Spear, chair of Scottish Food Commission and owner of the Three Chimneys Restaurant on Skye, is likely to be a frontrunner but Andrew Fairlie, Tom Kitchin, Neil Forbes, Nick Nairn and Jacqueline O’Donnell could also be contenders.

It is thought Michel Roux Jr, who runs several of his father Albert’s Chez Roux restaurants in Scotland is and a champion of Scottish produce, could also be an outside bet.

Andrew Fairlie, chef-patron of Scotland’s only two-Michelin starred restaurant at the Gleneagles Hotel, said the successful candidate would have to be a chef with “kudos”.

“It  makes sense to have one person representing and being responsible for all that is great about Scottish food, for it will bring some much-needed consistency,” he said.

“But whoever becomes the national chef would have to have some kudos.”

Scots celebrity chef Tom Kitchin, chef-patron of the one-Michelin starred The Kitchin in Leith and of the Edinburgh gastropub Scran and Scallie, expressed surprise at the idea of a national chef for Scotland.

“I’ve never heard of such a role, ever,” he said.

“Without knowing what the remit of a national chef is, I would say that anything that helps promote Scotland’s wonderful produce, and encourages young people to engage with food, is a good thing.

“It sounds like a massive role for one person. I wish whoever takes it on the best of luck.”

The high-profile position will be another weapon in the government’s bid to tackle Scotland’s diet-related health crisis.

Latest statistics from 2014 showed that 65 per cent of adults aged over 16 were overweight, including 28 per cent who were obese.

Aside from the national chef, the SNP manifesto will also contain a pledge to introduce a Good Food Nation Bill, a new £5 million fund to promote Island and Regional food and drink brands, and a renewed drive to increase demand for the supply and demand of organic food in Scotland.

The government will continue to opt out of the cultivation of genetically modified crops for the lifetime of the next Parliament

Scottish food exports surpassed £1.1bn for the first time last year, with total food and drink exports valued at £5.1bn in 2014.

It is hoped exports will expand in the coming years by targeting 15 markets – including the USA, Singapore, China, Asia Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.

A spokesman for the SNP told the Herald: “Our food policy over the next five years will be based on growing our food and drink exports even more strongly, focusing on some of the key overseas markets, as well as a renewed push on the home front to see more Scottish produce used by councils and other public bodies.

“And we will appoint Scotland’s first national chef to act as an ambassador, championing our food and drink at home and abroad.”