Welsh food strategy to target greater self-sufficiency

The Welsh government’s new National Food Strategy will seek to increase food self-sufficiency and protect domestic production capacity as part of a drive to strengthen food security.

An expert working group has been appointed to help develop the strategy, alongside publication of terms of reference setting out its objectives.

See also: Food production pledge in Defra land plan questioned

The strategy will be built around four pillars: health and wellbeing, food security, the economy and rural development, and the environment.

Under the terms of reference, its food security work will consider how Wales can increase self-sufficiency in key food groups, protect stable domestic production capacity and strengthen resilience against fragile global supply chains.

It will also examine opportunities to increase value-added food processing in Wales, strengthen local supply-chain infrastructure and improve routes to market, including through public procurement.

Three initial policy “deep dives” will focus on the security of the Welsh meat supply chain, expanding edible horticulture and food in primary schools.

These will examine potential trade-offs between food security, economic, health and environmental objectives, while identifying practical and low-cost measures that could be introduced ahead of the final strategy.

Expert group members

The expert group is chaired by Simon Wright, owner of Wright’s Food Emporium in Llanarthne, whose appointment was announced at the Royal Welsh Show in July.

Members include Farmers’ Union of Wales president Ian Rickman, Lantra’s Sarah Gould, Prof Tim Lang of City University London, Deiniol ap Dafydd of Blas ar Fwyd and Hybu Cig Cymru (Meat Promotion Wales) chair Catherine Smith.

Sue Pritchard of the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, Sam Kemp of Torfaen Food Partnership, Shea Buckland-Jones of WWF Cymru and Dr Rhian Hayward of the Food Standards Agency have also been appointed.

NFU Cymru will be represented, while one further independent member is still to be confirmed.

Ambitious plans

Cabinet minister for rural resilience and sustainability Llyr Gruffydd said the group’s experience, spanning “our farms and fisheries, to our schools and communities”, reflected the scale of the government’s ambition.

Mr Wright said the group would work with stakeholders and communities towards “a more prosperous, healthier, environmentally friendly and secure future for Welsh food”.

Final decisions on adopting the group’s recommendations will remain with Welsh ministers.