A surprising decision by our County Counsellors - March 2022

Have a read of our social media response to a rather mind boggling decision by our county counsellors …

I didn't feel we could let the week come to a close without responding to the recent decision by @oxfordshirecc to only serve vegan food options at their meetings. We absolutely see where their intention lies - who doesn't want to make sensible and sustainable choices for the benefit of the environment? As local farmers who work so hard to produce a sustainable product whilst preserving, regenerating and enhancing our environment we can't help but find this decision a bitter pill to swallow. No one is disputing that intensive, grain based meat production in far flung parts of the globe is damaging to the environment, but the same can be said for intensive production of non meat products too.

For us, this isn't about meat versus non meat. This is about environmentally damaging food production versus environmentally sensitive food production. And this weeks decision leaves us with 2 major concerns ...

1) Fair enough serve vegan only food options, but I would LOVE to know what steps the council are taking to ensure the products they are serving are seasonal, local, and farmed in an environmentally sensitive way. Over the coming months, under the freedom of information act, we will be requesting copies of meeting menus and will be really intrigued to see what is served up to Council delegates.

2) Today myself and a number of other fantastic local farmers met with some council representatives @doyleysfarmoxfordshire to discuss the decision. Their response to us was very much 'we are not anti meat' and 'we agree people should be eating less, better quality meat' but that is ABSOLUTELY NOT the message that has been portrayed in the media.

So @oxfordshirecc if that is really your point of view then what are you doing about it, because this isn't good enough. Where are the press releases confirming your support for local food producers and environmental guardians? What are you doing to maintain the reputation of sustainable meat production?

We'd love to hear some expanded answers from anyone at @oxfordshirecc because we really are confused...