A new project is set to stimulate the growth of healthy and sustainable food communities in four areas of Wales, working alongside existing initiatives to drive a transformation in food culture.
The Sustainable Food Communities Wales project has been commissioned by the Organic Centre Wales project Better Organic Business Links (BOBL) and will be delivered by the Soil Association in partnership with local communities and public, private and third sector organisations.
The project starts in January 2011 and will be coordinated by Phil Morgan (pictured), who has joined the Soil Association from the Food Standards Agency Wales, where he was responsible for nutrition and healthy eating and helped to develop and deliver the first national nutrition strategy for Wales, ‘Food and Well Being’.
Phil has had a long career in the Civil Service in Wales. Over a period of 37 years he has worked in a broad range of roles in the Welsh Office, Welsh Assembly Government, and latterly the Food Standards Agency, gaining extensive experience in the public health and food sectors.
Phil says: “I am really looking forward to working on this exciting and challenging project. I am currently working out the best approach to delivering the project and would really welcome any suggestions and advice from anyone who might like to get involved.”
The project will concentrate on four specific locations – Cardiff, Newtown, Pembrokeshire and Gwynedd – but will promote the concept of Sustainable Food Communities throughout Wales, helping individuals and organisations throughout the food chain to work together towards the common goal of a thriving healthy and sustainable food culture.
Work on the Sustainable Food Communities Wales project will be supported by use of the Food for Life Catering Mark, a Soil Association award offering unique accreditation for food catering. The Catering Mark combines a focus on health and nutrition with wider sustainability issues such as tackling climate change, conserving natural resources and improving animal welfare. It is open to all caterers in the UK, for menus in restaurants and workplace canteens; hospitals and care homes; nurseries, schools and colleges.
The Soil Association has been at the forefront of developing sustainable food communities, including the very successful Food for Life Partnership, which is transforming food culture in more than 3,000 schools in England and, more recently, through a growing programme of Sustainable Food City initiatives.
