Building food security in a region: Powys
Farm produce

In one rural part of UK – Powys County and Bannau Brycheiniong National Park – what would constitute a comprehensive response to the food security challenge set by Professor Tim Lang, as described on this website?

Tim Lang calls for a two-part response:

  • Grow more food for local and regional markets – to diversify and make safe our food supply.
  • Build community resilience, so that everybody can have access to food as prices rise inexorably and food shocks happen.

We have defined two Missions that tackle each of these foundational priorities and set out to deliver action at scale, so provoking system change.
local farming

MISSION 1: GROW MORE FOOD

  • Build new markets and farmer-owned supply routes into local communities, local schools and nearby cities.
  • Build affordable farms for a new generation of farmers to start growing agroecologically for local and regional markets.
  • Ensure a flow of experienced growers into new farming enterprises, working with local educators, such as Black Mountains College.
  • Develop new policies and planning rules to support the change.
Communal dining

MISSION 2: BUILD COMMUNITY RESILIENCE IN EVERY TOWN

  • Build local food leadership – literature, discussions, regional networking.
  • Expand community growing of fruit & veg.
  • Organise communal eating events.
  • Expand community cooking and storage facilities.
  • Teach people to grow vegetables.
  • Teach children and parents to cook using local ingredients – simple, tasty, low-cost.
  • Distribute food security advice to every household in the community.