A new ‘Community Food Strategy’ has been launched in Wales, aiming to strengthen local food systems, improve healthy eating, and create more sustainable communities across Wales.
The strategy, a key commitment enshrined in the Welsh government’s programme for government, will focus on connecting Welsh producers with consumers, supporting community-led food projects, and ensuring healthier food is accessible to all.
The Community Food Strategy also aims to build on existing initiatives including, ‘Food Matters Wales’, ‘Universal Primary Free School Meals’, and the ‘Food and Fun programme’.
Commenting, Deputy First Minister with responsibility for rural affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies said: “Food lies at the heart of all our lives. The land in Wales with its beauty and magnificence, brings many opportunities, which is why our produce is some of the finest in the world.
“What we eat impacts not only our physical and mental health, but also our environment, our culture, and benefits our communities. This strategy is shaped by the voices and local communities across our land and seas.”
Community Food Strategy
According to an official statement, as part of the strategy, the Welsh government has committed over £2 million for 2025-2026, with further funding secured through to March 2028, in support of local food initiatives.
Since 2022, local food partnerships have reportedly expanded to cover every local authority in Wales.
These partnerships include a hosts of targets, the Welsh government stated, including to coordinate local food systems, tackle food poverty, improve public health, and support green growth and education.
The new strategy will increase public sector spending on Welsh food and its suppliers by at least 50% by 2030, the government outlined, creating new market opportunities for local producers.
Food Sense Wales was named as just one of the organisations that has been working to support the development of local food systems in the region.
Founded in 2018, it was established to drive forward a cross-sector approach to the food system in Wales by working with communities, organisations, and policymakers.
Commenting on the publication of the strategy, head of Food Sense Wales, Katie Palmer said: “Our vision as an organisation is to help create a food system that’s both good for people and for the planet, and we welcome the publication of the Wales Community Food Strategy.
“There is already fantastic work taking place within different organisations across the country, and we very much see this is an opportunity to build on this through a more co-ordinated and structured approach.
“Ultimately, this will be an opportunity for stakeholders to work together to strengthen local food systems and to build back much needed diversity and resilience into our food system in a way in which supports the cultural, economic, social and environmental wellbeing of people in Wales.”
Building on over £26 million invested since 2019, the strategy integrates with the ‘Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales’ plan and the ‘2024 Child Poverty Strategy’ to ensure everyone can access healthy food.
The strategy will support small-scale horticulture through grants, training, and planning policy updates to enable community growing initiatives.
To ensure effective implementation, the government has announced that a new Ministerial Advisory Group will be established.
