The Welsh Government have announced their priorities for their new Community Food Strategy with the intention of developing a food system that is resilient and promotes healthy eating and growing food in a sustainable fashion. According to the Welsh Government the strategy is an essential part of their Programme for Government, focusing on connecting Welsh food producers with consumers, supporting community led food projects and ensuring that healthy nutritious food is available to all.
The scheme represents an investment worth £2 million in the year 2025-26, with funding secured until March 2028. Since 2022, Local Food Partnerships have expanded to cover every local authority in Wales. These partnerships coordinate local food systems and tackle food poverty, improve public health, and support green growth and education. The strategy aims to see a 50% increase in public sector spending on Welsh food and Welsh food suppliers by 2030.
In a statement, Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister who also has responsibilities for Rural Affairs said:
“Food lies at the heart of all our lives. The land in Wales with its beauty and magnificence, brings many opportunities which is why our produce is some of the finest in the world.
What we eat impacts not only our physical and mental health, but also our environment, our culture, and benefits our communities. This strategy is shaped by the voices and local communities across our land and seas.”
Katie Palmer, Head of Food Sense Wales said:
“Our vision as an organisation is to help create a food system that’s both good for people and for the planet, and we welcome the publication of the Wales Community Food Strategy.
There is already fantastic work taking place within different organisations across the country, and we very much see this is an opportunity to build on this through a more co-ordinated and structured approach.
Ultimately, this will be an opportunity for stakeholders to work together to strengthen local food systems and to build back much needed diversity and resilience into our food system in a way in which supports the cultural, economic, social and environmental wellbeing of people in Wales.”
The strategy will support small-scale horticulture by means of grants, training and updates to planning frameworks in order to enable community growing ventures. A new Ministerial Advisory Group will also be established in order to ensure effective implementation of the strategy.
