School children to serve up sustainability at Caerphilly Food Festival

Primary school pupils will take centre stage at the Caerphilly Food and Drink Festival this month, unveiling a school meal they designed as part of a sustainability and global citizenship project.

Over three weeks, pupils from Crosskeys’ Waunfawr Primary School joined interactive workshops delivered by Size of Wales, a charity that works with indigenous communities to protect tropical forests, alongside Caerphilly County Borough Council’s procurement and catering teams.

The sessions introduced the pupils to the hidden impact of “forest risk” ingredients, such as beef, palm oil, and soy, while highlighting the importance of environmentally responsible food choices.

Pupils analysed school menus and designed a dish that is nutritious, cost-effective, and free from ingredients linked to deforestation.

At the festival, the pupils will present their dish to celebrity chef James Nathan and visitors, sharing what they have learned over the three-week programme.

Festival-goers can sample the dish free of charge and learn about ingredients linked to tropical deforestation. The Size of Wales stand will welcome visitors from 11am to 1pm.

A council spokesperson said: “We are so happy to have worked with Size of Wales on this project.

“The pupils have shown exceptional creativity and awareness – not just in understanding global food systems, but in designing practical, meaningful solutions. Their enthusiasm for sustainability has been inspiring.”

A Size of Wales spokesperson said: “Young people understand immediately that schools should serve food that doesn’t drive tropical deforestation overseas. They consistently show how achievable it is to design meals that are deforestation-free, healthy, and nutritious. This project demonstrates how meals can support the planet, strengthen local economies, and nourish growing bodies.”

The Caerphilly Food and Drink Festival runs from 9am to 5pm on Saturday April 18.