Cork Food Policy Council

The Cork Food Policy Council (CFPC) was formed to work towards the achievement of a fairer, healthier, more secure and sustainable food system within the City and throughout the region under the slogan: Pure Cork – Real Food for All. The first public event attended by around 60 people was held on 13 June 2013 and the CFPC was formally launched on March 15th 2014. Since then it has been engaged in supporting new partnerships between a variety of statutory and community groups, educational institutions and businesses. It is organised through an 18-member Steering Committee chaired by Dr Colin Sage.

Current projects

‘Feed the City’ event, 15th March 2014, Grand Parade, Cork
• Official launch of the CFPC by the Lord Mayor
• 5,000 bowls of food distributed to public made from 1 tonne of waste vegetables
• Cooking demonstrations by local ‘celebrity’ chefs
• Talks in the Central Library (food waste reduction, nutrition, local food supplies)
• Demonstration stalls on seeds, planting and composting
• Family-friendly event with music and circus act
• Event successfully highlighted the issue of food waste and achieved huge media coverage with interviews on national TV, radio and newspapers.
• A wonderful example of civic collaboration between the City Council, UCC, CIT, HSE and a multitude of local groups & individuals
• Read an article on Feed the City event.

Street Feast event 15th June 2014
• Collaborating with the Street Feast organisers to develop this initiative in Cork;
• ‘Flash Feast’ publicity event organised on Grand Parade, 30th May with both Lord Mayors
• Around 50 street events across the city & county
• Watch the video

Ongoing
• Research informed submissions to consultation processes, especially the Cork City Development Plan (2015-20) in which we have helped to secure a clear policy commitment by the Council to make greater provision for community gardens and allotments across the city.
• To maintain a commitment to oppose the further expansion of fast food outlets close to schools and other youth facilities. The ‘No fry zone’ story appeared as a front page story in the Irish Independent on 20th March, and was followed by live radio interviews with Colin Sage on RTE Radio 1 Drivetime, Today FM, Newstalk FM, Radio Kerry, 96FM, and Red FM.

Networking
• The CFPC works closely with the Cork Healthy City initiative  and Bia Food Bank.
• The CFPC is working with the Head of Catering and the Procurement Project Officer at Cork University Hospital to explore prospects for local food procurement
• The CFPC is in the process of building closer ties with the Belfast Food Network as well as with UK and European initiatives.
• However, the CFPC remains focused on networking with many different stakeholders throughout Cork, in particular with:

- Voluntary and community organisations (Grow It Yourself, Knocknaheeny Community Garden, and with gardening groups in The Glen, Dunmanway, Kinsale)

- Educational institutions, including third level [Cork Institute of Technology’s Departments of Media Studies, Tourism & Hospitality, and Clean Technology Centre; and UCC’s Departments of Geography and Public Health] and second level [eg Colaiste Chriost Rí]

- With local food producers and cooks to emphasise the value of ‘local’

Funding
• Secured Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership funding
• Support of Cork City Council & HSE Health Promotion Department for Feed the City event
• Material support provided by Musgraves, UCC, food suppliers for Feed the City event
• Securing financial support for the appointment of a full-time coordinator now a priority issue.

Documents

Please refer to our website where various submission documents are available for downloading.