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E-mail this to a friendThis was the message from the Minister for Natural Resources and Food, Alun Davies when he addressed the Farming Union of Wales’ (FUW) Annual General Meeting earlier yesterday.
The Minister also emphasised the importance of the Welsh Government and the agricultural industry working together for the future of farming and stressed that he wanted to see the industry put on a more robust business footing.
Alun Davies called on farmers to rise to the various environmental challenges they faced and rejected any suggestion that economic growth and environment sustainability were irreconcilable. He said:
“Green growth not only protects our environment but also drives wealth creation. If we are to create green growth and a truly sustainable, thriving and prosperous economy in Wales, environmental actions have to go hand in hand with economic ones.
“My view is that we should waste no more time debating whether we can have food production or environmental outcomes. The two are inextricably linked and we simply must have both.
“Indeed if we do not look after the trees and the bees and our rivers - our natural resources – then the result will be a major, long term detrimental impact on food production.”
The Minister stressed how important the reform of CAP and the next seven years would be to the future of farming in Wales and confirmed he would be making an announcement on the future of CAP ahead of the Royal Welsh Show.
Alun Davies said:
“These next seven years will provide the industry with an opportunity that no other parts of the economy will have – guaranteed and predicable public support for a definite period. This time must not be wasted. It must be used to put individual farm businesses on a firm footing.
"I have outlined how the Government will use taxpayer's resources to help support farming. I have announced a review of the resilience of the industry especially in the uplands. This is an opportunity to work together to shape our future. I trust and I hope that all farmers and the farming community will join me in making the best of this opportunity.”
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