A Local Food Charter for Gwynedd and Anglesey

Bangor University is co-operating with two local authorities by hosting a high level workshop for the Local Services Management Board of Gwynedd and Môn and local food sector representatives including local food businesses.

Promoting, supplying and using locally produced and organic food in Gwynedd and Anglesey is the focus for the facilitated workshop co-organised by Bangor University’s School of Environment, Natural Resources & Geography, with Cyngor Gwynedd’s Food Forum and Sustainable Gwynedd Gynaladwy. The meeting on Thursday 6 June is funded by Better Organic Business Links, Organic Centre Wales, the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

Key business, the public sector who are looking to source more local healthy food and the voluntary sector who are involved with food poverty and health campaigns are invited to get involved with the Gwynedd Local Food Charter by attending the meeting. This charter, one of only two in Wales, and the only rural charter at local authority area scale, aims to encourage the people of north Wales to consider choosing and growing food locally. This will lead to many positive outcomes for them directly and indirectly for example through more secure, long term supply of affordable healthy and local food.

The meeting takes place at 10.30 on Thursday 6 June at Bangor University’s Thoday Building on Deiniol Road, Bangor. The meeting will last until 1.00 and will begin with short informative presentations from local food campaigners, Ben Gregory from Gwynedd and Steve Garret from the Riverside Community in Cardiff – a true north- south Wales learning collaboration.

This will be followed by a facilitated workshop which will have practical positive results for the local food industry of the University’s neighbourhood communities. Those wishing to attend are invited to contact the organisers via e mail to m.furlong@bangor.ac.uk as soon as possible to secure a place and lunch.

Dr Eifiona Thomas Lane, Director of the Sustainable Development degrees and Geography lecturer at Bangor University’s School of Environment, Natural Resources & Geography explains:

“Supporting the growth of our local food economy and heritage in Gwynedd and Môn will bring with it a great range of benefits to local sustainability including quality of life. Ensuring that our communities, especially the youngest and older residents, can enjoy local, fresh, healthy, affordable natural food, produced to the highest standards of safety and quality, means, in short, better local food shopping and dining experiences and a safe supply of tasty, wholesome food we can trust.”

Cerys Humphreys, Co-ordinator of the Gwynedd Food Forum, Cyngor Gwynedd said: “Through the promotion of local food production activities, we can improve the health and well-being of people in the county.  Producing and purchasing local food that is sustainable, can contribute to the economy by encouraging new ventures and increasing the number of local food- related jobs.

Publication date: 4 June 2013