The COVID-19 pandemic, the UK’s departure from the European Union, increased energy prices combined with the Russia-Ukraine war has and will continue to present challenges to our food systems. These events have highlighted how heavily dependent the UK is on imported foods. We have seen food prices rise, empty shelves in our supermarkets, watched lorries packed with perishable goods queuing at borders and been told that a shortage of labour (i.e., food workers and HGV drivers) is preventing restaurants, supermarkets, schools, hospitals and consumers from accessing the food they need. Our fragile, ‘conventional’ food systems are increasingly coming under the spotlight as they adversely affect our economies, our environment and our health.
The ‘conventional’ food systems that currently feed Wales are based on complex, international logistics and ‘long’ food supply chains that involve many intermediaries. Increased populations and weather events such as flooding, and drought brought on by climate change will add further pressure to our finite resources, increasing the costs of food and making our conventional food systems more challenging – now is the time for change.
Cardiff Council in collaboration with Monmouthshire County Council are seeking to identify and support projects to develop innovative solutions which can significantly improve the sustainable production and supply of food. The Challenge looks for applicants to harness the potential of land, technology and people to increase the sustainable production and supply of locally grown food in the Cardiff Capital Region.
This £2.1m challenge aims to improve local food production and supply, which will provide positive economic, social, and environmental impacts to the region.
A Briefing Event will be held on 18 October 2022, please select the following link to register for the event https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-sustainable-production-supply-of-food-challenge-tickets-427909678367
The deadline for applications is 2 December 2022, for further information on the competition please select the following link https://sbri.simplydo.co.uk/challenges/62ba014c104eee8a58984cee