An ambitious scheme to grow fruit and vegetable on land across Monmouthshire is being launched at the end of this month.
Anyone interested in offering up land for the community project is welcome to attend.
The scheme is the brainchild of a new local community benefit society known as Our Food 1200/Ein Bwyd 1200 who want to rebuild the local food economy in Monmouthshire and across the Brecon Beacons.
A spokesperson for the initiative which launches on March 30 said “We’re looking for farmers and landowners in Monmouthshire and the Brecon Beacons who have small plots of land suitable for growing fruit and veg for sale locally.”
The aim of Our Food 1200 is, over 10 years, to create a network of small-scale regenerative* growers serving local communities on three to five acre plots.
The search is on for a total of 1200 acres.
‘‘That’s all it would take to produce enough seasonal fruit and veg for every household in the region. This type of farming generates about one job per acre, so we seek to create at least 1200 jobs.
‘‘As well as calling on farmers and landowners to make land available, or start their own regenerative enterprises, Our Food 1200 is engaging with other people who are essential to success.
‘‘Existing growers and sellers of local food are invited to collaborate to grow market share for locally produced food.
‘‘Land seekers are invited to come and farm in Monmouthshire and the Brecon Beacons.
‘‘And residents are invited to help find land and new growers in every community across the region.’’
In the future, Our Food 1200 says it will help new enterprises to access business finance, create local supply chains, expand local markets and find suitable housing.
The directors of Our Food 1200 / Ein Bwyd 1200 are: Adam Alexander, Dianne Spencer, John Morris, Judy Wayne, Pamela Mason, and Patrick Hannay.
Support for the project to date has come from the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, the Vale of Usk Rural Development Programme, the Welsh government, and the London-based Conservation Farming Trust.
Our Food 1200 says it is also eagerly awaiting news on funding from the Welsh Government’s Cooperation and Supply Chain Development Scheme.
The project provides the vital local lead that Welsh government food and farming policy depends upon.
Welsh government has stated that “a sustainable agriculture sector for current and future generations is key to meeting our commitment for Wales to be net zero by 2050 and reversing the decline of biodiversity.”
1200 acres of produce, sold locally through box schemes and other outlets, would kickstart a new local food economy, keeping profits local and reducing food miles. Local supply chains would also create a foundation for other farmers and food producers to sell their products locally – for example, milk, cheese and other dairy, meat, jams, preserves and other condiments, cereals and locally processed foods including confectionery, tea and coffee.
This kind of farming is a necessary response to the need to make food supply chains more resilient, to tackle climate change, to provide more healthy food and to revitalise rural communities.
Anyone interestred can register for the online launch event, 11am to 1pm on March 30 by visiting https://ourfood1200.wales
For further information contact Duncan Fisher: [email protected] / Tel: 07950028704