‘Support Welsh farming’ says NSA
RESPONDING to the Welsh Affairs Committee report recently, NSA says it strongly believes Welsh farming should be supported, creating opportunity for the next generation while recognising the importance of Welsh agriculture to food production, local communities, biodiversity and land management.
The report calls for greater transparency and information about the purchase of viable farmland in Wales by corporations using carbon offset schemes, citing that 90% of land in Wales is used for agriculture and contributing, comparably, significantly more to the Welsh economy than farming in England.
NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker says: “We have a history of initiatives, often with good intentions, distorting markets and doing more damage than good. Carbon trading could fall into this category if we are not careful, so I welcome and support the recommendations. Now is the time to stop incentivising one strand of sustainability and recognise that sustainable agriculture, with grassland farming at its heart, can deliver for the climate, for communities and, of course, for food production.”
NSA fears Welsh heritage, local communities and sustainable food production are being undermined by unregulated carbon offset schemes for the benefit of net-emitter companies. It urges the UK and devolved nation governments to recognise that agriculture is in a unique position in that, while there is pollution from the sector, land management practices are often employed that sequester carbon benefits biodiversity, habitat and food security.
Helen Roberts, NSA Cymru/Wales Regional Development Officer, says: “If carbon trading is allowed to continue uncontrolled then large swathes of Welsh farmland will be lost forever.
“I believe Welsh family farms are in the best position to manage the land and make decisions to maintain the viability of our industry for food production without compromising the environment.
“Welsh lamb is leading the way in climate conscious production and widely recognised by the public as high quality and being produced in tune with the environment.”