Future of food production in Wales to be discussed
Creating a sustainable food system for Wales, that will help feed the population through a future of uncertain climate and political change, is the focus of a unique event in the Vale of Glamorgantomorrow, with farmers, community growers and policy makers coming together.
With increasing interest in local food, community growing and food security, the event will be an opportunity to discuss current initiatives both from Welsh Government and the community growing sector, and to help address the gap between supply and demand, as well as consumers and producers.
There will also be a debate on the future of community based and small scale agriculture following the decision to quit the EU. With the future of our food supply likely to be impacted by Brexit, the conference debate will be the starting point for a vision of how local and community growing can strengthen food production and the supply of food in Wales.
A wide range of delegates are due to attend, including community growers and small scale food producers, as well as policy makers, academics and organisations working to support and increase sustainable food production.
The keynote speaker will be David Morris, Deputy Head of the Food Division at the Welsh Government and there will be sessions on the fruit and veg needs of Wales, building sustainable food systems, community supported agriculture and the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
Delegates will also get the chance to attend workshops addressing issues facing community food growing such as land, planning and income generation. There will also be talks and workshops from successful community growing projects and horticulture businesses, as well as tours and practical workshops on the Riverside Market Garden, based at the venue.
The event, at the Coed Hills Rural Art Space near Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan, has been organised by the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens and the Community Land Advisory Service in Wales (CLAS Cymru), funded by the Big Lottery Fund Wales.
CLAS Cymru Coordinator Lucie Taylor said: “We know how much passion there is in Wales about food production, sustainability, food miles, the environment, health and well-being and the many other issues associated with where our food comes from. We want this event to be an opportunity for everyone, whether they are a small scale farmer or a community allotment holder to gather and talk about the future of food production in Wales.”
Notes for Editors
Contact: Lucie Taylor, email: lucie@communitylandadvice.org.
The Community Land Advisory Service:
CLAS Cymru is a five year programme funded by the Big Lottery Fund, which aims to bring more land into community cultivation by offering expert advice on land and planning issues to both community growing groups and landowners. CLAS Cymru is part of a wider Community Land Advisory Service which also operates in Scotland. More via the website atwww.communitylandadvice.org.uk
Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens is a UK charity which supports, represents and promotes community-managed farms, gardens, allotments and other green spaces, creating opportunities for local communities to grow. In Wales, we work with these community groups to help empower local people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to build better communities (often in deprived areas) and to make a positive impact on their surrounding environment. We also provide the national face of the movement, promoting its work and raise its profile with decision-makers, funders, the public and the media. For information on our work in Wales visit:www.farmgarden.org.uk/wales
