‘Geographers have played a prominent role in highlighting the dynamic dialectic between place and produce’ (Morgan, 2011: 231). This thesis seeks to develop this statement further by also including policy and community collaboration. Wales provides a unique lens through which to view the foodscape’s contribution to sustainable development and place-making. The unique context of the Welsh Government’s pioneering Well-being of Future Generations Act (2015) (Welsh Government, 2015a) and the National Sustainable Placemaking Outcomes (Welsh Government, 2021a) both enable a detailed focus on the foodscape equity and sustainability. This research places food within the heart of Welsh policy to discuss how food and drink can contribute to the development of sustainable and resilient landscapes, consumption experiences, and community development for future generations.

The latter stages of the food supply chain (retail and consumption experiences) are explored in-depth through a multi-methods approach including interviews, questionnaires, and document analysis. Case studies illustrating local food entrepreneurship, food festivals and events and community food hubs are developed, as they are indicative of the growing food and drink developments actively occurring in North Wales. This thesis’ unique approach to the exploration and reflection of multiple varying food experiences fills a gap in current knowledge, which adds to the canon of literature.
Connections are drawn across the food-based experiences to place-making, and a practical and original insight into the Welsh food consumption-scape is outlined. Differing scales of place-making are illustrated and the roles of people in shaping places is discussed, as are the opportunities for maximising both commercial and community interests which are vital for the development of resilient places. The need for engagement with the planning processes in Wales – in which place-making is embedded – is articulated. The siloed approaches of planning places and food policy should be challenged to implement place-based real-world change to strengthen partnerships, communities, and places within Wales’ foodscapes. Legacy-building through positive, collaborative and impactful initiatives emerges as a theme, along with the need to ensure a more sustainable approach to deliver multi-agency coordination and funding continuity for food innovation and enterprise. This work contributes to the development of a stronger, sustainable, a more just system for the future of Wales by discussing three future recommendations for supporting Welsh foodways through representation, relocalisation and restructuring.