1. Achievements realised June 2013 – June 2014:

The first public event proposing the creation of a Cork Food Policy Council (CFPC) was held on June 13, 2013 and received a very positive welcome. Working alongside the Cork Healthy City initiative the CFPC, organised through an 18-member Steering Committee chaired by Dr Colin Sage, has begun a process of engaging stakeholders across the city and the wider region. It’s remit is to work towards the achievement of a fairer, healthier, more secure and sustainable food system under the slogan: ”Pure Cork – Real Food for All”.

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2. Events/outreach:

– Public Event UCC June 13 2013: 50-60 attendees;

– Feed the City event, 15th March 2014, Grand Parade:

• Official launch of the CFPC by the Lord Mayor,

• 5,000 bowls of food distributed to public made from 1 tonne of waste vegetables,

• Event successfully highlighted the issue of food waste,

• 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,

• A wonderful example of civic collaboration between the City Council, UCC, CIT, HSE and a multitude of local groups & individuals.

– 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.

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3. Materials & virtual presence:

• Development of a website, Facebook page and Twitter profile,

• Promotional material comprising well-designed leaflet and pop-up display stands,

• Established online pledge encouraging individuals to reduce food waste,

• We have developed a significant social media following (663 ‘Likes’ on FB).

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4. Media profile:

• Huge publicity surrounding the Feed the City event (see Storify: https://storify.com/UCC_Ireland/cork-gets-ready-to-feed-the-city;

• Estimated 71 pieces of coverage across print, radio, television and online with a total audience of 12,896,626 people with an advertising value equivalent of €586,281.61 and an editorial value of €1,758,844.83.  The Feed the City campaign achieved 47 minutes of coverage on national and local radio and television.  Over 185,000 accounts were reached on Twitter with 315,000 plus impressions on Twitter;

• ‘No fry zone’ story, 20th March, Irish Independent, regarding need to regulate opening of new fast food outlets close to schools. Live interviews subsequently conducted by Colin Sage on RTE Radio 1 Drivetime, Today FM, Newstalk FM, Radio Kerry, 96FM, Red FM.

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5. Networking:

• Meeting with Head of Catering and Procurement Project Officer, Cork University Hospital regarding the possibility for future collaboration on local procurement. Ongoing contacts;

• Networking across different stakeholders within Cork:

o   Education: CIT (Departments of Media Studies, Tourism & Hospitality, the Clean Technology Centre) and UCC (Depts of Geography and Public Health),

o   Voluntary and community organisations (Niche, GIY, Knocknaheeny Community Garden, and gardening groups in The Glen, Dunmanway etc),

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

o   Exploring areas of common interest & collaboration with Musgraves.

• Networking beyond Cork: Links with other FPCs in Belfast and Bristol; CFPC representatives have spoken at events in Castlebar, Limerick, Cloughjordan.

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6. Research:

• Building a regional database on the food system: what are the characteristics of food production and supply across the Cork region.

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7. Submissions:

• To public consultation, Cork City Draft Development Plan, 2015-21,

• Contact with Special Advisor to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs with invitation to progress discussions on opening of take-aways near schools,

• To public consultation on Food Harvest 2020, Dept of Agriculture, Food & Marine,

• To Cork City Council: observation on planning application for South Pres site.

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8. 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.