University helps Cardiff become one of UK’s first sustainable food cities

Cardiff has become one of the first cities in the UK to be officially recognised for promoting sustainable food, as part of a wide-ranging partnership which included the University.

The Sustainable Food Cities bronze award recognises work in areas such as promoting healthy food to the public, reducing waste and tackling food poverty.

Food Cardiff, which was set up to help Cardiff become a sustainable food city, has worked closely with a wide-ranging group of partners to secure the award.

One such partner was the University, which is committed to offering sustainable food to staff and students.

The University has a Soil Association Food for Life Catering Mark for its three restaurants at Main Building, Trevithick and the Julian Hodge Building Lounge.

This means, for example, the University will always source meat from farms which satisfy UK welfare standards and ensure free range eggs are used. It has also made a commitment to source fish from only sustainable sources by signing the Sustainable Fish City Pledge.

The University is part of the Food Cardiff Council, which was set up in 2012 as part of the Sustainable Food Cities Movement. It includes bodies such as Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, City of Cardiff Council, the Soil Association, Cardiff Food Bank and Wrap Cymru.

It meets at least four times a year to share knowledge and look at ways to tackle food-related problems such as obesity and food waste.

One of the University's flagship engagement projects, Community Gateway, is also working with Food Cardiff to look at ways of promoting affordable, healthy food in Grangetown.

The criteria for the Sustainable Food Cities Award hinge around six themes: healthy diets, food poverty, the local economy, community activity, public sector food, and waste.

Cardiff will now work towards a silver award for which it must demonstrate that its sustainable food achievements and activities are increasing year on year.

Brighton and Hove, Plymouth and the London borough of Lambeth are recognised alongside Cardiff as leaders of the Sustainable Food Cities movement.