In March 2025, Food Cardiff hosted a series of Food Conversations using the toolkit developed by the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission (FFCC). These workshops brought together more than 90 participants from diverse communities across Cardiff to explore what people value about food, what’s not working, and what needs to change to create a healthier, fairer, and more sustainable food system. 

Participants called for systemic change driven by government, businesses, farmers, and communities working together. Participants highlighted their desire for more affordable and accessible healthy and nutritious food, grown locally and seasonally. All groups stressed the importance of embedding food and health education across all ages. Participants highlighted the problem of food and packaging waste, and expressed the desire to see power shift from big corporations toward communities. 

During the food conversations, each group voted for their top three solutions to change the food system. From these, the following top five priorities were created: 

Solution 1 – Embed Food Literacy for All

Participants want lifelong, inclusive food education, from early years to adulthood. This includes cooking skills, nutrition, health awareness (especially around ultra-processed foods), sustainability, ethics, and food system literacy. Education should empower informed choices, support healthy and sustainable food cultures, and foster community resilience. An action to support this could include launching a food citizenship campaign for Cardiff. 

Solution 2 – Reduce Food & Packaging Waste

Participants see food waste as a moral and environmental failure, and are worried about the environmental impact of plastic packaging waste. Participants call for expiry date reform, surplus redistribution, household-level support, and supermarket accountability. They also expressed strong support for reducing plastic packaging and transitioning to sustainable alternatives through regulation and innovation. 

Solution 3 – Support Local & Sustainable Food Supply Chains

Communities want more access to local, seasonal, and culturally appropriate food. This includes growing spaces (allotments, community gardens), support for small farms, and promotion of seasonal eating. Reducing the distance food is travelled and reconnecting people with where their food comes from are key goals. An action to support this could include expanding food markets across Cardiff. 

Solution 4 – Stronger Government Leadership

Citizens wanted government to coordinate national strategies tied to health, climate, and fairness. This includes regulating supermarkets, supporting farmers, introducing taxes on unhealthy foods, subsidising healthy options, and ensuring food is treated as a public good. Participants envisioned a central government body or “Ministry of Food” to lead on food system reform. 

Solution 5 – Make Healthy Food Affordable and Accessible

Affordability is a major barrier. Participants want healthy food to be the most accessible option. Actions could include food vouchers, increased benefits, fair pricing by supermarkets, and more local shops selling fresh produce — especially in areas dominated by fast food outlets. 

To find out more, download the full Food Conversations report here.