During a workshop hosted by Comhar Sustainable Development Council on 1 December in Dublin, the Challenge Europe S.O.U.L group* engaged key stakeholders involved in Community Food Initiatives (CFIs) on the island of Ireland to arrive at key policy recommendations for government in relation to Community Food Initiatives. The event was attended by approximately 20 experts from across Northern Ireland and Ireland, as well as the Irish Minister for Food and Horticulture, Trevor Sargeant, who delivered the keynote address. Overall, the event was a tremendous success with lots of useful discussion and feedback. In January/February 2009, the S.O.U.L group members aim to undertake a public consultation of policy recommendations and after this time, a second stakeholder workshop will be held and final policy recommendations for Community Food Initiatives published.

*S.O.U.L. Food Growing Communities - (Seasonal, Organic, Unprocessed, Local)
The project hopes to encourage more people to grow their own food and this will be realised in three ways: Collaborating with community garden groups throughout the island of Ireland; supporting the formation of a Social Enterprise set up to practically address the issue of Food Miles; drafting a national policy on community gardens and other non-commercial horticultural initiatives.