Welsh Government
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Securing a future for farming, food and countryside in Wales
Launching a consultation on the long-term future of the farming and food industry in Wales the Minister said it was important that the industry was aware of and met the needs of its customers. The strategy outlines a number of proposals how this could be done including encouraging strong Welsh branding, training for farmers on how to market their produce, supporting more farmers to collaborate and providing a wider variety of produce.
Challenges highlighted in the document include dealing with food supply and demand, and climate change. Opportunities include the potential for Wales to be seen as producing a variety of high quality Welsh-branded food and for farmers to work together to effectively market their produce.
Achieving a more profitable future for farming and the food industry, dealing with the effects of climate change; and encouraging innovation are among the aims of the consultation, Farming, Food and Countryside – Building a Secure Future.
The consultation highlights the challenges which the farming and food industry faces including the need to protect our countryside. There are also opportunities that the industry must grasp to secure its future. It follows the publication of the independent report 2020 which recommended a number of changes to Wales’ farming industry. Elin Jones said:
Agriculture is essentially about the production of food. It is also about land management and safeguarding the environment. There are challenges ahead on both these fronts for the industry.
The aim of this strategy is to achieve a more profitable future for farming and the food processing industry while safeguarding the environment and maintaining the vitality and prosperity of our rural communities.
Food production remains vitally important and in Wales we must consider how we strengthen and secure our food industry to ensure we enhance our reputation for quality produce. The strategy outlines proposals explaining how this can be done by supporting local food processing and integrating supply chains.
As land managers farmers play a key role in safeguarding our countryside. Wales has a major opportunity to embrace a more sustainable approach to land management, and take account of the impact of climate change.
Innovation is the life-blood of any industry and farming is no exception. Innovators must be encouraged to develop and become a powerful force for change. This can relate to production, the environment or how farmers work together and with others in rural communities and the strategy outlines proposals to advance innovation.
We all know what the challenges are. We must also grasp the opportunities. I would now ask those in the industry to take part in this consultation so that we can work together on securing the future for Wales food and farming industry.
Elin Jones visited the Really Welsh Trading Company in Llantwit Major on the day of the consultation launch. The company sells vegetables grown in North and South Wales to a number of supermarkets and branded as Really Welsh. She said:
Produce seen as Welsh and the production of a wider variety of produce by the industry is important for the future. The company I am visiting today is one example of what can be achieved and there are many others across Wales. Wales has the opportunity to take advantage of the promotion of healthy eating and the growing call for local produce.
It is important farmers know who their customers are, what they want and how to meet their needs. That is key to the future of the industry.
Proposals in the strategy include:
Stronger Connections to the Market – Farming Connect will encourage collective action to market produce and will provide tailor-made training services for managers of farming co-operatives. Innovation and diversification will be assisted.
Sustainable Land Management – Develop support for organic farming as one example of a sustainable land management approach. Use Farming Connect to ensure farmers receive the latest and most relevant information to enable them to respond to climate change.
Innovation - The Welsh Assembly Government will undertake a seperate public consultation on proposals to support young entrants into farming. Work with agricultural colleges will ensure that vocational education, training and skills development for young people entering the industry takes account of the challenges ahead.
Related Links
http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/?lang=en
http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/farmingandcountryside/farming/?lang=en
