Young farmers meet Welsh government to discuss three 'key pillars' for post-Brexit policy

Next Gen meeting with the Welsh government
Next Gen meeting with the Welsh government

A group of young farmers from across Wales have discussed future post-Brexit Welsh agricultural policies with the government, emphasising a need for three 'key pillars'.

NFU Cymru’s Next Generation Policy Group's vision is for a policy that is outcome focussed, delivering on three key pillars of sustainability – economic, social and environmental; a policy that supports sustainable farming systems across the range of scales that is currently seen in operation in Wales.

Held at the Senedd, the meeting was an opportunity for the Next Generation Policy Group to discuss a range of issues including; their ideas on a future agricultural policy for Wales, how to support and encourage new entrants into the industry and the role that farmers play in delivering a wide range of goods and services to society in Wales.

The Next Generation Policy Group is made up of young farmers from across Wales who come from a wide range of sectors and farm types. The group has met on a number of occasions prior to their meeting at the Senedd, to discuss and agree their key priorities for a post Brexit agricultural policy for Wales.

'We are clear in our vision'

Guto Davies, who is a member of the group and an upland beef and sheep tenant farmer from Clwyd said: “As a group we are clear in our vision for a policy that is outcome focussed, delivering on the three key pillars of sustainability – economic, social and environmental; a policy that supports sustainable farming systems across the range of scales that we currently see in operation in Wales.”

Joy Cornock, who is also a member of the group and from a dairy, beef, sheep and arable farm in north Pembrokeshire said: “A post Brexit policy should provide mechanisms that target improvements in productivity on farm and ensures that interventions are made to support the active farmer.”

Cabinet Secretary Lesley Griffiths AM said the discussions were 'open, honest and constructive' around the future direction of agriculture in Wales.

Miss Griffiths said: “As we prepare to leave the European Union, it is more important than ever we work in partnership to identify opportunities to develop a distinctively Welsh agricultural policy, one that works in the very best interests of farm businesses and the wider Welsh economy.

“It was also good to talk about how we might encourage more young, and not so young people too, into farming – new blood and fresh ideas are an essential ingredient in any successful industry.”