Sustainable Food Cymru Workshop: Paving the Way for a Sustainable Food Future in Wales
The ϳԹ (ϳԹ) hosted a two-day workshop as part of the Sustainable Food Cymru initiative, bringing together academics, policymakers, and societal partners involved in Wales’ food industry.
The workshop explored the local food system from soil to plate, with the aim of informing policy that supports sustainable local production and contributes to a holistic transformation of the food system, helping to achieve Net Zero goals.
The event took place at the historic Founders’ Library in Lampeter, with an exhibition in the Special Collections at the Roderic Bowen Library showcasing valuable resources for researching traditional Welsh food practices. The workshop, funded by WIN (Wales Innovation Network), aimed to foster meaningful dialogue between academic researchers and stakeholders from the Welsh food sector, working together to build a better future for food security in Wales.
Workshop Highlights
The event featured a series of thought-provoking presentations from experts in food systems and policy:
- Dr Katherine Steele (Bangor University) introduced the vision and objectives of the Sustainable Food Cymru network, which aims to build a strong academic foundation for future research into Welsh food security.
- Professor Louise Steel (UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES Coalition at ϳԹ) and Gareth Thomas (ϳԹ) explored transdisciplinarity as a research method, highlighting the value of collaboration across disciplines to address complex issues such as food security.
- Kevin Hodson (ϳԹ) provided an insider’s perspective on the hospitality industry with his presentation, “The Real-Life Difficulties in Catering,” which examined the challenges the sector faces in creating sustainable food pathways.
- Katie Palmer (Food Sense Wales) reignited discussions with her talk, “Re-establishing Our Connection with Food Through Veg,” stressing the importance of reconnecting communities with sustainable, local food production.
- Carwyn Graves introduced “Cegin y Pobl,” a new initiative aimed at encouraging community engagement with sustainable food practices.
In addition to these engaging presentations, the event featured several interactive and hands-on sessions. Dr Luci Attala, Director of the UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES Coalition at ϳԹ, led a ‘Visually Mapping Expertise’ icebreaker session that encouraged participants to explore shared connections and expertise. Another key session, led by Professor Thora Tenbrink (Bangor University), sparked lively discussions around the barriers to food security, building on themes from a Sustainable Food Cymru webinar held in March 2024.
One of the standout moments of the workshop was a hands-on bread-making session led by Barny Haughton MBE, of the Square Food Foundation.
Participants not only learned practical skills but also enjoyed the fruits of their labour with freshly baked bread, symbolising the tangible results of collaborative efforts towards sustainable food practices.
Building a Path Towards Food Security and Net Zero
Professor Louise Steel, Director of Research: UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES Coalition at ϳԹ, highlighted the importance of this collaborative approach, stating, “This was a lively and thought-provoking workshop which emphasised how harnessing the passion and commitment of independent local food producers, and instilling skills and confidence within communities, could potentially provide a route towards food security and Net Zero in Wales.”
The Sustainable Food Cymru initiative was established to encourage transdisciplinary research into food systems, with a particular focus on the future of food security in Wales. By bringing together universities and societal partners, the initiative seeks to co-create research that can effectively inform Welsh food policy, contributing to a more sustainable and secure food system for the nation.
This workshop aligns with UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES’ commitment to addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through inclusive, transdisciplinary research.
Further Information
Arwel Lloyd
Principal PR and Communications Officer
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: arwel.lloyd@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 07384 467076