The future of food and farming in Wales

Public meeting - Friday 3rd June 2005

Food and farming in the Wales faces a stark choice. Do we continue to put profit first? Or adopt practices that safeguard the future of what we eat - and those who provide it
If we let them - the Government, biotech industry and supermarkets will decide for us. It's time to put your foot down.

Did you know:

• The mean distance your food has travelled from field to plate has doubled in the last 20 years
  
• 9,000 jobs have been lost on Welsh farms since 1991.
  
• On average, only 10p in every pound spent in the supermarket goes to the person who actually grew the food
  
• A recent Mori survey showed that the majority of people living in Wales didn't want GM.

The meeting will discuss, how:

• We should increase public procurement of local food for schools and hospitals.
• We can keep Wales GM free
• Organic farming is vital for our future farming in Wales

A distinguished panel of speakers will discuss the way forward for food and farming in Wales and look at the ways good quality local and organic food can improve our health and our help to safeguard our environment whilst also benefiting our local rural economies.

The threat posed to our environment and to organic and conventional farming from GM crops hasn't gone away. The US is trying to use the WTO to force GM technology on us. Is it too late? What can we do to stop it? This meeting will discuss ways we can all get involved in the campaign to keep Wales GM free.

Who, where, when...

Speakers:

• Julian Rosser, Director Friends of the Earth Cymru
• Lord Peter Melchett, Policy Director of the Soil Association and former Executive Director of Greenpeace UK
• Professor Kevin Morgan, Professor of European Regional Development and Director of the Regeneration Institute

Venue:

Bridges Community Centre
Drybridge Park
Monmouth
NP25 5AS

Time:

Friday 3rd June, 7.00pm
Various local and organic suppliers will also be there showcasing their produce
Fair Trade complimentary refreshments will be available. Entry is free of charge.