Last week I learnt the terrific news that my Member Legislative Proposal - the Food (Wales) Bill - had been selected for further debate.

A Members’ Legislative Proposal creates a unique opportunity for Members of the Senedd to bring forward laws in their own right.

There is a challenging process to go through now; nonetheless, I will strive to gain cross-party support to bring it to fruition.

With the green agenda becoming increasingly more prominent in recent years, people are rightly putting greater emphasis on the need to support and promote local produce.

Local food production is of significance given it reduces our carbon footprint and also creates an abundance of economic opportunities for the local economy.

But there are still obstacles facing local producers here in the UK that needs urgent addressing.

For example, did you know that we are only 54 per cent self-sufficient in fresh vegetables?

This statistic comes at a time when the pandemic has revealed the true significance of us needing sustainable local food supply chains.

My proposed Bill would address many of today’s problems.

It would firstly boost the over all number of local food producers by ensuring they have access to support and incentives; secondly, it would require local authorities and other areas in the public sector to make better use of local produce, as well as strengthen statutory requirements on food labelling, including in the hospitality sector; thirdly, it would place a duty on Welsh Ministers to produce an annual Food Strategy for Wales to tackle food poverty and malnutrition; and finally, it would set an ambitious aim to eliminate all forms of food waste and oblige supermarkets – and other relevant shops – to donate unwanted food to charities and food banks

My proposed Bill would ensure the use of local food, create local jobs and stimulate local economies in the Monmouth constituency and, indeed, across Wales.

Should my Bill be rolled-out it would underpin our food security and production for many generations.