Importance of food production on agenda
MEETING on the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, NFU Cymru members emphasised that the importance of food production will only increase in the coming years as the world’s population continues to grow, and food production systems get challenged elsewhere.
The union’s representatives were united in their concern that Welsh Government proposals for a new Welsh agricultural policy as part of the Brexit and Our Land consultation does not seem to adequately acknowledge the importance of food production and the continued supply of safe, affordable food.
NFU Cymru president John Davies said: “Recent weather events here in the UK only serve to underline the precarious nature of food production, and how it is at the mercy of Mother Nature. Here in Wales we are extremely fortunate. While the past 12 months may have presented some challenging weather conditions, we do generally have the ideal climate for producing food; good quantities of rain and good quality grass growth are two of the most vital ingredients for producing delicious and nutritious, wholesome food.
“We must recognise the future challenges to our global food production system including a changing climate, growing UK and World populations, dietary changes and scarcity of resources such as land and water. Given our climate and rainfall, Wales is predicted to be an area of favoured production in the future; Welsh farmers will inevitably have a key role to play- indeed a responsibility- in feeding the peo- ple of Wales and contributing to global food security now and in the future.”
“With all this in mind as we take note of World Food Day, I think it is concerning that Welsh Government’s ‘Brexit and Our Land’ consultation proposals fail to properly acknowledge the importance of food production and the role that Wales can play in global food security.
“While there are merits to the two proposed schemes, the fact remains that future policy in Wales must also have a stability payment to underpin the production of safe, quality, traceable and affordable food. Displacement of food production to other parts of the world is a wholly unsustainable position for any government.
“In the past week we have heard from EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan and his intention to provide substantial direct support to farmers in the European Union for producing food. I find it extremely frustrating that Welsh Government appears to be underestimating the importance of food production. As well as aiding health and nutrition, it underpins our landscapes, tourism industry, environment, economy and culture.
Throughout the Brexit and Our Land consultation we read mention of ‘land managers’ and this is not something that we, as farmers, identify with. We are farmers and we are proud to produce food and feed the nation.
“We urge Welsh Government to develop an agricultural policy that rewards farmers for their food producing abilities alongside their environmental credentials.”