Wales pledges to protect farmland from solar

The Welsh government has pledged to protect the best and most versatile farmland from large-scale solar developments as part of efforts to strengthen food security.

Speaking in the Senedd on Wednesday (30 June), first minister Rhun ap Iorwerth said work was also under way on a national food strategy designed to improve food security, support Welsh producers and build a more resilient food system.

See also: Opinion: Why solar panels belong on farm roofs, not farmland

The comments came after Reform UK MS Laura Anne Jones, shadow minister for food, farming and rural affairs, questioned how the government’s food security ambitions could be reconciled with the loss of agricultural land to large-scale solar schemes such as the planned 121ha Candwr solar farm, stretching across Monmouthshire, Torfaen and Newport.

Protecting farmland

“You cannot, on the one hand, say that food security matters, it’s your aim, you have a plan that would require as much farmland as possible, and then, on the other hand, allow prime agricultural land or food production land to be taken out of food production and used instead for large-scale solar developments,” said Ms Jones.

Mr ap Iorwerth responded that he did not believe that the best and most versatile land should be used for large-scale solar.

“There are planning rules in place in Wales that mean that we should be protecting this land for food production.

“This is a government that will want to uphold those rules that are in place for very good reason,” he said.

National food strategy

The first minister also confirmed that a ministerial working group is being established to develop the national food strategy.

This, he said, would take a “farm to fork” approach, creating a joined-up system for production and processing, through to retail and public-sector procurement.

Further details of the strategy are expected in the coming weeks.