I would like to see more meat on the bone

AS the cost of living crisis bites, it’s inevitable that the food shop is an area where many consumers will seek to waste less, will look for offers or take cheaper options to make the pound stretch a little further. It was recently confirmed that Welsh Government is now looking to put measures and systems in place that will provide free school meals for all children of primary school age, commencing in September 2024.

There is a sound base of evidence that links children’s progression in learning with the nutrition they are afforded. The old adage that an army marches on its stomach is a very pertinent one in this context. We simply cannot expect children to learn at school unless they are adequately nourished. Given the current economic climate and the gut wrenching stories of children going hungry, that principle of ensuring that every child is nourished is an admirable one.

Pardon the pun, I would like to see more meat on the bone. In the austere times in which we live and the impending global food crisis, it’s fair to seek assurances that in realising that noble aspiration to feed every child, the right nourishment is provided. It would be all too easy for budgetary constraints to dictate a lower standard of food provision. I would be keen to see public procurement processes place a greater transparent emphasis on true value for money as opposed to volume for money when it comes to food.

It was the early 20th Century writer and journalist GK Chesterton (most famously known as the ‘prince of paradox’) that said “Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are.” In recent weeks, if you asked that question of pupils eating school dinners at one Carmarthenshire comprehensive school (as was widely reported) the answer wouldn’t be what anyone might hope for, regrettably.

Naturally, public procurement of food should give due attention to issues of traceability, production standards, environmental standards and carbon footprint. It will probably be the case that, without responsibly utilising domestic production, the powers involved in public procurement will achieve less bang for their buck in looking for ‘cheaper ‘ options for food service.

Food production by Welsh and British farmers should be seen as a sound investment in the future of children’s health and education. To achieve this, Welsh Government needs to support food production in deed and in funding at a time when the sector is faced with spiralling input costs. A good start would be to review the time scale of the rollout of regulations to maintain production as much as possible, and to ensure that productive land is indeed safeguarded and used for food production.

The looming food crisis is a hot topic. Now is the time for Welsh Government, through the incoming Agriculture (Wales) Bill, to put the production of high quality, affordable and sustainable food front and centre of future government policy.