Monmouthshire County Council is taking strides to celebrate and enhance the important work of Food Partnerships throughout Wales, particularly spotlighting the achievements of the Monmouthshire Food Partnership. The local government has effectively adopted comprehensive food strategies, setting ambitious targets aimed at procuring and providing local, healthy, and sustainable food.

Recently, Food Sense Wales published the Local Food Partnership Status Report, which reveals a wealth of vibrant food initiatives across the country. Among these initiatives is the Welsh Veg in Schools project, a pilot programme coordinated by Food Sense Wales. This initiative focuses on integrating more organically produced Welsh vegetables into primary school meals, collaborating with key partners such as Castell Howell and Farming Connect Horticulture. This synergy aims not only to nurture local growers but also to confront the financial challenges posed by the higher cost of organic produce. By covering the price difference between locally sourced organic and standard vegetables, the project promotes healthier school lunches while supporting local agriculture.

In a significant expansion, the Welsh Veg in Schools project received further backing from the Bridging the Gap programme in spring 2024, aiming to scale its impact across the public sector. Since its inception as a small pilot, the initiative has blossomed into a substantial movement, serving over 200,000 portions of fresh, organic vegetables across more than 200 schools in Wales, including 12 primary schools in Monmouthshire alone. This ambitious scaling not only aligns with the Welsh Government's Universal Free School Meal policy but resolves to enhance local communities' health and nutrition.

Mary Ann Brocklesby, Leader of Monmouthshire County Council, highlighted the community aspect of these partnerships, stating, “There’s a good food movement happening all across Wales, and we’re proud to be part of it. Local food partnerships are some of the key drivers of change. They bring together public bodies, community food growers, and the voluntary sector to develop local solutions for food resilience.” Her sentiments reflect a broader ethos embraced by many local councils across Wales, where public health and food security are becoming paramount concerns.

The Local Food Partnership Status Report for 2025 acts as a crucial overview of the state of local food initiatives, showcasing best practices from the 22 Local Food Partnerships existing in Wales today. Not only does it deliver valuable feedback from members of these partnerships, but it identifies how collaboration amongst public entities and local growers can effectively tackle food insecurity and promote sustainability.

Also notable is the development of the Marches Regional Food Hub by Monmouthshire County Council, designed to connect local food producers with important public entities, such as schools and hospitals. This hub aspires to create shorter food supply chains, ultimately aiming to enhance food security and support public health initiatives. By establishing a more straightforward connection between producers and consumers, the initiative is set to lower carbon emissions, bolster the local economy, and aid smaller businesses while nurturing food resilience and sustainability.

Looking ahead, the findings from the Welsh Veg in Schools initiative indicate that, with adequate planning and investment, it's achievable for Welsh organic vegetables to make up around 25% of all school servings by 2030. Should Local Authorities and the Welsh Government agree to augment funding by a mere 3.3p per meal, it would enable the inclusion of two portions of local organic vegetables seasonally, thereby delivering significant economic and environmental benefits to Welsh farmers and communities alike.

As the Good Food Movement continues to gain traction throughout Wales, initiatives like those spearheaded by Monmouthshire provide a compelling case for how local collaborations can not only enhance public health but also forge a path toward a more sustainable future for food in this region.