Submitted by Katie Palmer of Food Sense Wales

Food Sense Wales is a part of Cardiff & Vale Health Charity (registered charity number 1056544). It was born out of the work of Food Cardiff, a multi-award winning cross sector food partnership and member of the Sustainable Food Cities network, which aims to make healthy, affordable and sustainable food a defining feature of the city.

Food Sense Wales’ aim is to apply the knowledge, expertise and experience gained from Food Cardiff and stakeholders across the Welsh food chain, to help shape food policy that makes sense across the whole of the food system in Wales; to the economy, the nation’s health and the environment.

The scope of this inquiry is vast, ranging from local food production to Food Tourism. The evidence presented here is a series of “observations” informed by Food Cardiff/ Food Sense Wales’ practical experience over the last 3 years. Particular emphasis is placed on the fact that whatever aspect of food one is considering, it should not be looked at in isolation but as part of a system. Food Sense Wales is a member of the following organisations/networks/Programmes of work:

• Food Cardiff Partnership, Sustainable Food Cities Network
• Wales Food Poverty Alliance (see also separate submission from Oxfam Cymru)
• Food and Drink Wales Industry Board
• Peas Please Programme Board (Joint initiative led by Food Foundation to increase veg consumption).

The five observations are as follows:

1. There is a lack of strategic “join up” across the policy areas that link food.
2. Welsh Government’s strategic direction with regards to food and wellbeing across the life-course is inadequate.
3. Food Poverty is a growing concern and there is no cohesive policy for monitoring or addressing it.
4. There is no established Wales wide network or organisation bringing the shared experience of the Food System together to help inform policy.
5. Brexit is fraught with challenges but Wales has the opportunity to develop a unique brand.

Download the full submission: Rethinking Food in Wales by Food Sense Wales

All submissions to the Consultation are now available to read here.