A new Community Food Strategy aims to strengthen local food
systems, improve healthy eating, and create more sustainable
communities across Wales.
The strategy, a key commitment in the Welsh Government's
Programme for Government, focuses on connecting Welsh producers
with consumers, supporting community-led food projects, and
ensuring healthier food is accessible to all.
Deputy First Minister with responsibility 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."
The Welsh Government is committing over £2 million in 2025-26,
with funding secured through to March 2028, to support local food
initiatives.
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 increase public sector spending on Welsh
food and suppliers by at least 50% by 2030, creating new market
opportunities for local producers.
One of the organisations that has been working to support the
development of local food systems is Food Sense Wales. Founded in
2018, it was established to drive forward a cross-sector approach
to the food system in Wales by working with communities,
organisations and policy makers.
Commenting on the publication of the strategy, 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.”
Building on over £26 million invested since 2019, the strategy
integrates with the Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales plan and the
2024 Child Poverty Strategy to ensure everyone can access healthy
food.
The strategy supports small-scale horticulture through grants,
training, and planning policy updates to enable community growing
initiatives.
To ensure effective implementation, a new Ministerial Advisory
Group will be established.
The strategy is grounded in the Well-being of Future Generations
(Wales) Act 2015 and the Cymru Can strategy, supporting
government objectives for social, economic, environmental, and
cultural wellbeing.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Notes to editors:
- The Community Food Strategy builds on existing initiatives
including Food Matters Wales, Universal Primary Free School
Meals, and the Food and Fun programme.
- The Welsh Government will work with local authorities, food
partnerships, schools, and community organisations to implement
the strategy over the coming years. Public bodies are encouraged
to embed food into their wellbeing plans and work closely with
Local Food Partnerships.
- In 2024, the Food and Fun programme reached 205 schools and
supported over 13,000 children daily.
- Local Food Partnerships now operate in all 22 local
authorities in Wales.
