Food Charters Off the Ground in Wales

We are all encouraged to eat more healthily and responsibly, but transforming food culture – and the food systems that support it  – can seem like a huge task. As a response, some cities in the UK and abroad have developed ‘food charters’ as a way of bringing individuals, businesses, public institutions and policy-makers together around shared principles and ambitions on sustainable food. Many have also developed detailed strategies and action plans to turn these ambitions into reality.

Until recently, although there are a multitude of national and local strategies to improve our diet (mainly for health reasons), nothing had emerged in the way of a concerted approach to local and sustainable food anywhere in Wales. It is therefore encouraging to note that it is now ‘all systems go’ on the implementation of Food Charters for Cardiff and Gwynedd. These ambitious initiatives – which are financially supported by the Better Organic Business Links programme through the Sustainable Food Communities Wales project – are intended to devise the basis for comprehensive integrated and sustainable food systems for Cardiff and the county of Gwynedd.

The main aims of food charters are to promote the importance – economically, environmentally and health wise – of sustainable, locally produced and organic food. The charters themselves are formed around a set of core principles which stakeholders across the public and private sectors and communities more broadly can accept and support. Supporters are each encouraged to commit to action to ensure the aspirations are delivered.

The Cardiff Food Charter was launched at a conference held in Cardiff University on 3 April 2012. Over 100 delegates heard inspiring presentations from representatives of various organisations, including Cardiff Council and the Welsh Government. As well as presentations in support of the Charter, the conference heard from speakers from other parts of the UK where Charters are already in place – notably Plymouth and Brighton. Delegates also spent time exploring potential challenges and solutions in aspiring to creating a sustainable food system in Cardiff. A report of the conference and copies of the presentations together with the Charter and associated sign –up form can be found on the Soil Association website.

Representatives from core institutions and organisations are now urgently considering how to develop an action plan and establishing a Food Policy Council for Cardiff.

The Gwynedd Food Charter – which was developed by Sustainable Gwynedd under the Sustainable Food Communities project through a series of public consultation meetings held over recent months – was launched during the 2012 Urdd Eisteddfod held near Caernarfon on 6 June.

Speeches of endorsement and support were given by the Chairman of Gwynedd Council, and Lord Dafydd Elis- Thomas AM the former Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales and currently Chair of the Assembly’s Environment and Sustainability Committee and Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on Rural Affairs, Fisheries and Food.

Discussions are now underway between partners about how to maximise the impact of the Charter for the benefit of individuals, communities, food producers, suppliers and food businesses generally across the county.

Phil Morgan is Project Coordinator for Sustainable Food Communities Wales