CFPC Policy Consultation

Cork Food Policy Council Draft Vision for a Food Strategy for Cork 2025-2030

Introduction

Urban cities host over half the world’s population with the projection of increasing further in the coming years. In the context of a rapidly urbanizing world, the global food systems challenges have become serious challenges for cities.  The food system is a complex web of activities involving the production, processing, transport, and consumption. It includes not only the basic elements of how we get our food from farm to fork, but also all of the processes and infrastructure involved in feeding a population. 

Cities, including Cork, have the potential to have a key role in addressing these challenges for their citizens.  Attaining a population-based diet consistent with a sustainable diet will require major population-level changes, however a move in this direction is essential given that unsustainable food systems producing unhealthy diets are the global norm and inflict the double burden of being bad for human health and bad for the environment. In this regard, we are setting out a plan to make the Cork food system safe, resilient and sustainable.  

This draft food strategy consultation sets out the vision of the Cork Food Policy Council to create a resilient, sustainable and healthier food environment for the region of Cork which is fully inclusive,  and enables everyone to learn more about growing, cooking and enjoying good food. Because this is a plan for Cork City, the actions that residents, businesses, community groups, and public sector institutions will have to take are a vital contribution to the achievement of our vision of a resilient and sustainable food system for Cork. Lord Mayor of Cork City, Cllr Dan Boyle stressed the need for public input saying that:

"Lord Mayor Of Cork Cllr. Dan Boyle said of the project “As we seek to transform to net-zero carbon emissions Cork City is at an important point in its journey and I think this is the perfect time to have a conversation about food, how we consume it, where it comes from and how we dispose of, or indeed reuse, the waste materials. I encourage everyone to get involved in this consultation to create a Food Strategy for Cork because this is our food system and we as citizens are the ones who will ultimately drive the change to a more sustainable food system"          

 Goals

The draft vision for the Cork Food Strategy has 5 goals:

1. To create an environment which provides nourishing food for all
2. To build a sustainable and resilient local food system
3. A thriving local and diverse food economy
4. To promote a community-centred food environment
5. Lifelong learning & skills

The Cork Food Strategy builds on the principles of the Cork Food Policy Council:

Work in partnership to

• Influence local food policy to follow best practice in developing a healthy, sustainable and resilient food system;
• Support new initiatives that promote knowledge, skills and experience around food;
• Advocate for innovative community food initiatives that seek improvements to the food system improving equitable access to quality food.

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Date 15th August 2024
Brian Geaney 
Assistant Chief Executive 
Cork City Council