We welcome the current discussion about the future strategy for food & drink in Wales. We propose a high priority for building local food economies and addressing the climate crisis.

[If you would like to co-sign this letter, please do so here. We will then add your name at the end.]

A focus on building local food economies and addressing climate change in the Welsh food & drink strategy would align it well with other Welsh strategies: the foundational economy, the well-being of future generations, and the declaration of a climate emergency.

The total annual spending on food and non-alcoholic drink of the population of Wales is around £6billion a year, £4billion on groceries, $2billion on eating out. [ONS, 2018 figures] The vast majority of the $4billion is spent in supermarkets and the money is fed into global supply chains that generate between one quarter and one third of greenhouse gas emissions. A climate emergency requires that this be addressed in the most urgent ways possible.

A foundational economic approach

Wales is rightly prioritising the foundational economy – that part of the economy that frames our everyday life, keeping us safe and connected with each other. Food buying is by far the biggest part of the foundational economy. “Food supply is central to the quality of life and security of the population” states the 2013 Manifesto for the Foundational Economy. Foundational economic thinking seeks to grow businesses that are “grounded” in the local economy – local supply, local employment, local pride. Customers of a locally grounded firm are not just customers, but active citizens who are spending in ways that support the common good and local quality of life.

In line with this, the Well-Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 calls for “attractive, viable, safe and well-connected communities”.

We recommend that building local food economies is at the heart of the strategy for food & drink in Wales:

• A high priority for supply chains within localities, including processing and retailing.
• Major support for community schemes and programmes to expand substantially the spending on local food by both consumers and public bodies.
• Strong support for small-scale businesses serving the local economy and providing jobs, and for those considering entering this sector, as employees or as entrepreneurs.

Responding to climate change

This year the Welsh Government declared a climate emergency.

This year’s IPCC report, Climate Change and Land, states that the global food system contributes between 21% and 37% of all greenhouse gas emissions resulting from human activity. One of the solutions proposed in the report is enhancing local and community actions.

When calculating its carbon footprint, Wales must include the climate impact not just of the food sector within the country but that created globally by the industrial production and transportation of food purchased and consumed by the population of Wales.

We recommend that the food & drink strategy prioritises climate change as an emergency:

• A radical programme of reduction of food miles.
• Substantial support for small-scale production, in particular organic and agro-ecological production and sustainable horticulture.

These recommendations align with those in the 2016 report, Food Policy as Public Policy, by the Public Policy Institute for Wales.

Signed (so far):

Duncan Fisher, Our Food
Simon Wright, Wright’s Emporium
Sammi Jones, Slow Food South West Wales
Andy Middleton, The TYF Group
Jane Powell, Food Manifesto Wales
Peter Segger, Blaencamel Farm
Stephen Terry, The Hardwicke Restaurant
Sue Holbrook, Our Food
Lucie Scott, Liliwen Herbs
Lesley Marshall
Judith Greenwood
Eva Richards
Patrice Louise
Mark Manson, Y Polyn
Gwilym James
Kelly O’Brien, Incredible Edible Carmarthenshire
Andrea Sanders, Smallholder & food activist
Jane Cook, food blogger & freelance restaurant PR
Jessica Seaton
Candace Brown, Y Pantri Glas
Simon Pickthall, Vanguard Cymru
Sharon Noakes, Knife & Fork Food Ltd
Simon Poffley, Left Bank Brewing Co
Richard Essex, Regeneration Practitioners Network Wales
Eilish Blade, Blade Clinic
Graeme Wilson, Slade Farm Organics
Veronica Russell, Stables Wellbeing
Kate Surry, Mold Community Garden
Hilary South
Mark Greenway
Landworkers’ Alliance Cymru
Lauren Simpson, Parc y Dderwen
James Duff
Nerina Vaughan
Holly Gould
David Langton, Langtons Farm
Katherine Robinson, Langtons Farm
Chloe Masefield, Natural Weigh
Lynda Hall, The Bear Hotel
R Fieldhouse
Jo Priede
John Whiten, Gower Power
Andy Polkey, Lampeter Permaculture Group
Cathy Streeter, Lampeter Seed Library
Kathryn Proudlock
Carol Carpenter, Lampeter Permaculture Group
Domenico Scarpetta, La Mediterranea Food UK
Elizabeth Jeffreys, Brecon Heritage & Cultural Network
Madeleine Boase, Plastic Free Monmouth
Ann Eggleton, Past Chair, Transition Monmouth
Andrea Jackman, Crucorney Environmental Group
S Heppenstall
Stephen Askew, Askews Bakery
Ziemowit Nowicki
Vivien Mitchell, Transition Monmouth
Angela Roberts
Mandie Porter
Christine Snape
Julia Lim, Bwyd Bendigedig Llambed/ Incredible Edible Lampeter
Pauline Smith
Robin Masefield, Natural Weigh
Judy Cooper, Lampeter Permaculture Group
Richie & Emma Lewis, Lewis Layers
Ben Ward, Moor Park Garden
Ella Hammel
Angie Polkey, Lampeter Permaculture Group
Dai Eastwood
Jo Brayford
Aimee Ward
Carol Hughes
Odette Wills, Students’ Organising for Sustainability

If you would like to sign this letter, please do so here and we will add your name to this letter.

See also:

Invitation to national discussion about rebuilding local food economies in Wales, 13 November

A Welsh campaign to provide local and sustainable food economies