New Marches food hub welcomed

The chief executive of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has welcomed news that plans for a Marches regional food hub have been awarded funding from UK charity the Dixon Foundation.

The Marches Regional Food Hub will bring together councils in Monmouthshire, Powys, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin to create an innovative food procurement partnership.

Plans to create the hub have just been awarded seed corn funding from the Dixon Foundation, a UK charity supporting 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 for SME producers to supply into large public institutions.

Rachel Laver, from the Marches LEP, said she was delighted to see councils across both sides of the England/Wales border working together.

“This is an excellent example of organisations coming together and working in partnership to create a hub which will bring benefits across a wide region,” Rachel said.

The hub aims 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.

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.

Catrin Maby, Monmouthshire Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment said:

‘The successful application to the Dixon Foundation with support from DPUK presents a very exciting opportunity.  This is a win-win for the local rural economy and our environment as we work with our farmers and food producers to provide opportunities to increase local food production and reduce food miles.’

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