From Vision to Delivery: Developing a Resilient, Community-Driven Food Policy for Cork
Abstract
Background: Ireland’s food system is currently dependent on long supply chains, with the country importing 83% of its fruit and vegetables while domestic horticultural production has declined. This vulnerability is compounded by rising food poverty. To address these issues, the Cork Food Policy Council (CFPC) has conducted an extensive public consultation to inform the development of a food policy for Cork.
Methods: The consultation included over 400 individual participants, with representation from citizens, community groups, HSE, City Council, food growers and producers, food businesses, retail, and farmers. Engagement methods included 25 workshops and focus groups, 4 world café sessions, a youth forum, a semi-quantitative questionnaire (N = 120), semi-structured interviews with food growers and business owners, and 19 substantive online submissions
Results: The consultation revealed a desire for a system that is local, accessible, and skill-based. Actions were identified under five core goals: Nourishing Food for All, a Sustainable Food System, a Thriving Local Economy, Resilient Community-Centred Environments, and Lifelong Learning. Key challenges identified include the dominance of fast-food outlets, poor transport links to supermarkets, intergenerational loss of food knowledge and skill and critical barriers for producers such as land access.
Discussion/Conclusions: The strategy advocates for a shift from calorie security to nutritional resilience. This work has highlighted that food policy is economic development and urban planning policy, requiring coordinated implementation and sustained investment to move from vision to delivery.
Key messages: • Food policy is economic development and urban planning policy, requiring coordinated implementation and sustained investment to move from vision to delivery.
• A healthy, sustainable food system means everyone can access nutritious, affordable food, while citizens help shape solutions for Cork’s future.
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BibTeX
@article{harrington2026from,
title = {{From Vision to Delivery: Developing a Resilient, Community-Driven Food Policy for Cork}},
author = {JM Harrington and M O’Reilly and S Murphy and D Cahill and S Bertin},
journal = {The European Journal of Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.324},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.324},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - From Vision to Delivery: Developing a Resilient, Community-Driven Food Policy for Cork
AU - JM Harrington
AU - M O’Reilly
AU - S Murphy
AU - D Cahill
AU - S Bertin
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - The European Journal of Public Health
DO - 10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.324
UR - https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.324
AB - Background: Ireland’s food system is currently dependent on long supply chains, with the country importing 83% of its fruit and vegetables while domestic horticultural production has declined. This vulnerability is compounded by rising food poverty. To address these issues, the Cork Food Policy Council (CFPC) has conducted an extensive public consultation to inform the development of a food policy for Cork. Methods: The consultation included over 400 individual participants, with representation from citizens, community groups, HSE, City Council, food growers and producers, food businesses, retail, and farmers. Engagement methods included 25 workshops and focus groups, 4 world café sessions, a youth forum, a semi-quantitative questionnaire (N = 120), semi-structured interviews with food growers and business owners, and 19 substantive online submissions Results: The consultation revealed a desire for a system that is local, accessible, and skill-based. Actions were identified under five core goals: Nourishing Food for All, a Sustainable Food System, a Thriving Local Economy, Resilient Community-Centred Environments, and Lifelong Learning. Key challenges identified include the dominance of fast-food outlets, poor transport links to supermarkets, intergenerational loss of food knowledge and skill and critical barriers for producers such as land access. Discussion/Conclusions: The strategy advocates for a shift from calorie security to nutritional resilience. This work has highlighted that food policy is economic development and urban planning policy, requiring coordinated implementation and sustained investment to move from vision to delivery. Key messages: • Food policy is economic development and urban planning policy, requiring coordinated implementation and sustained investment to move from vision to delivery. • A healthy, sustainable food system means everyone can access nutritious, affordable food, while citizens help shape solutions for Cork’s future.
SN - 1101-1262
SN - 1464-360X
ER -