Monmouthshire County Council is joining one of the first four regions in the UK to kick start an innovative food procurement partnership.

Monmouthshire has been awarded funding to develop a Marches Regional Food Hub. The role of a Food Hub is to connect local food producers with public bodies initially – such as local authorities, schools and hospitals, making shorter food chains to benefit the environment, local economy, food security and public health.

Working alongside Local Authorities in the cross-border Marches area, which includes Powys, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin – the Food Hub will bring together producers and public bodies, developing a way forward for procuring local food for local consumption.

Short food supply chains have been shown to lower carbon emissions, boost the local economy and support smaller producers and businesses, while bringing fresh seasonal produce to local kitchens.

The ‘Marches Regional Food Hub’ is one of four regions in the UK to have been awarded seed corn funding from the Dixon Foundation, a UK charity providing funding for positive regenerative solutions. The funding is supported by Dynamic Purchasing UK Food (DPUK), the national body supporting Dynamic Food Procurement. DPUK aims to establish Dynamic Food Procurement in every region of the UK – this is a proven model that uses smart technology to open the market and enable SME producers to supply into large public institutions. A recommendation of the National Food Strategy and having completed successful pilots, DPUK believes the approach will bring transformative change to the region. DPUK is to become a Lead Buying Organisation, sharing best practice in order  to accelerate the approach taken by autonomous regional buying organisations.

Catrin Maby, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment for Monmouthshire County Council said: ‘‘This project presents a very exciting opportunity for Monmouthshire, to be at the forefront of cross border, sustainable food development, as part of a UK initiative to transition into short supply chains, supporting the provision of local food to our local public bodies. This is a win-win for our rural economy and our environment as we work with local farmers and food producers to increase food production and reduce food miles.”

For further information on the project please contact food@monmouthshire.gov.uk

Serving up Innovation in Monmouthshire

Monmouthshire County Council is joining one of the first four regions in the UK to kick start an innovative food procurement partnership.

Monmouthshire has been awarded funding to develop a Marches Regional Food Hub. The role of a Food Hub is to connect local food producers with public bodies initially – such as local authorities, schools and hospitals, making shorter food chains to benefit the environment, local economy, food security and public health.

Working alongside Local Authorities in the cross-border Marches area, which includes Powys, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin – the Food Hub will bring together producers and public bodies, developing a way forward for procuring local food for local consumption.

Short food supply chains have been shown to lower carbon emissions, boost the local economy and support smaller producers and businesses, while bringing fresh seasonal produce to local kitchens.

The ‘Marches Regional Food Hub’ is one of four regions in the UK to have been awarded seed corn funding from the Dixon Foundation, a UK charity providing funding for positive regenerative solutions. The funding is supported by Dynamic Purchasing UK Food (DPUK), the national body supporting Dynamic Food Procurement. DPUK aims to establish Dynamic Food Procurement in every region of the UK – this is a proven model that uses smart technology to open the market and enable SME producers to supply into large public institutions. A recommendation of the National Food Strategy and having completed successful pilots, DPUK believes the approach will bring transformative change to the region. DPUK is to become a Lead Buying Organisation, sharing best practice in order  to accelerate the approach taken by autonomous regional buying organisations.

Catrin Maby, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment for Monmouthshire County Council said: ‘‘This project presents a very exciting opportunity for Monmouthshire, to be at the forefront of cross border, sustainable food development, as part of a UK initiative to transition into short supply chains, supporting the provision of local food to our local public bodies. This is a win-win for our rural economy and our environment as we work with local farmers and food producers to increase food production and reduce food miles.”

For further information on the project please contact food@monmouthshire.gov.uk

Tags: Food, Food HUb, funding, Marches Regional Food HUb, Partnership