PROJECTS  > FOOD FOR THE REGION > THE READING ROOM: FOOD & FARMING

Across Wales, there is a huge amount of work, thought-leadership, strategy and policy being developed around the future of our food, the future of farming, and how we can build a more sustainable system.  To provide resources to accompany our Food System Conference for South West Wales, we are sharing some interesting reading, as well as useful links and organisational profiles, in an attempt to provide a useful hub for those who want to immerse themselves in this topic!

Please submit your links, organisations and articles to add to this list.

PATRICK HOLDEN IN CONVERSATION WITH DAWN LYLE #FOOD4THEREGION
Ahead of the upcoming regional Food System Conference for South West Wales, we talked to Patrick Holden, founder of the Sustainable Food Trust and himself a West Wales dairy farmer, about the challenges and opportunities for transforming our food and farming sector.
Patrick Holden in Conversation with Dawn Lyle #Food4theRegion

WHAT WALES COULD DO WITH A COMMUNITY FOOD STRATEGY
The Welsh Government has announced that it will create a Community Food Strategy during its current term.  Jane Powell explores the benefits of a comprehensive community food strategy that would consider land use for Wales.  “Such a food policy could help us decide what our land is for, as well as pulling together other threads, from farming and the economy to health and social inclusion.”
What Wales Could Do With A Community Food Strategy

WALES FOOD MANIFESTO
From shorter food supply chains to a focus on education and understanding, the Wales Food Manifesto is a citizen-led campaign for a food system that will protect and respect people and nature.  The draft version of the manifesto is now open for comments and feedback.  
Wales Food Manifesto (Draft)

WALES FIELD GUIDE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
Jane Davidson chairs the Wales Inquiry for the Food, Farming & Countryside Commission, and this 2020 report draws from their conversations with people across the nation, illustrating the incredible work already underway. “These inspiring stories show a surge in energy and appetite for new ways of sourcing and growing food and a new appreciation for the role of the countryside.”
FFCC Wales Field Guide for Future Generations

FOOD POLICY ALLIANCE CYMRU – MANIFESTO
Food Policy Alliance Cymru is a coalition of organisations and stakeholders building and promoting a collective vision for the Welsh food system, through collaboration, engagement and research.  Their 2021 Manifesto envisions a food system that eliminates food poverty, supports population health, provides good jobs and focuses on sustainable, zero carbon faming for nature and climate.
Food Policy Alliance Cymru Manifesto

THE GLOBAL FARM METRIC
After four years of hard work and collaboration with numerous farmers, organisations and experts, The Sustainable Food Trust has created a measurement framework for on-farm sustainability, called the Global Farm Metric, which covers 11 categories of sustainability.  “We need a common approach to measuring a farms impact on the environment, economy, and society”.
Read about the Global Farm Metric

Community Growing & Local Food Roundtable
4theRegion assembled a group of thoughtleaders from across South West Wales, to discuss the local food movement and the increased interest in community growing.  Featuring Neil Barry & Witchhazel Wildwood from Swansea Community Growing Network; Tom O’Kane & Jessie Kidd from Cae Tan CSA, Gareth Davies from Pembrokeshire Community Food Network, and Maggie Vicuna from the Forest Garden Project.

A MARKET FOR LOCAL FOOD – CONVERSATION WITH BEN REYNOLDS
4theRegion spoke to Ben Reynolds from Urban Foundry about the website, South Wales Food & Drink, and why creating and sustaining a market for local food is so important.  Food and drink suppliers from across South Wales can list themselves on the website to benefit from co-promotion with likeminded businesses across the region.
South Wales Food & Drink: www.southwalesfoodanddrink.com

TYFU CYMRU SUPPORTS COMMERCIAL HORTICULTURE IN WALES
Boosting horticulture farming is key to the Welsh Government’s plans to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic and is identified by their Green Recovery Taskforce as a route to accelerating Wales’ transition to a low-carbon economy and a healthier, more equal nation.  Tyfu Cymru (Grow Wales) provides funded, tailored support to Wales’ horticulture sector, and has published a Commercial Horticulture Action Plan for Wales.
Tyfu Cymru and the Wales Horticulture Alliance

REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM CONFERENCE FOR SOUTH WEST WALES
Please book your place at 4theRegion’s upcoming food system conference!  This will bring together everyone who cares about the future of our food and farming system, to share perspectives and agree priorities for government, businesses and civil society.  If you eat food, you are invited!  Listen, learn and share your views at this online event over two days, 5th and 6th October 2021.
Register Your Place