Welsh Assembly publishes farming strategy

The Welsh Assembly Government has published a draft strategy aimed at achieving a profitable farming industry while safeguarding the environment and mitigating climate change.

The strategy, which has the sustainability of family farming and rural communities at its core, is based on the views of a committee of key stakeholders drawn from agriculture, environmental bodies, research organisations and the food processing sector.

Elin Jones, assembly rural affairs minister, launched the document during a visit to the really Welsh Trading Company in Glamorgan, which markets vegetables grown on Welsh farms. It will be out to consultation until 8 September.

Ms Jones said: “Agriculture is essentially about the production of food. It is also about land management and safeguarding the environment and there are challenges ahead on both these fronts.

“Wales has a major opportunity to embrace a more sustainable approach to land management and take account of the impact of climate change.”

The main proposals in the draft strategy are:

• Stronger connections to the market.


• Sustainable land management.


• Innovation.

It envisages that help for new entrants, enhanced vocational training, encouragement for co-operatives and the further development of organic farming will all be part of the strategy that is drafted when the consultation period is over.