In the global challenges facing agriculture - Does Wales have a role?

"Wales, and Welsh farmers, have a role to play in the global challenges facing agriculture, such as energy supply, food security and climate change," that is what Professor Wayne Powell, Director of IBERS, Aberystwyth, told local farmers recently at the NFU Cymru Brecon and Radnor County Conference.

Professor Powell also added that, "Innovation and the best science are also crucial to face these 21st century challenges and that is where the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences – IBERS - comes into it and plays a vital role."

As Brecon and Radnor is mainly a beef and sheep farming area the new County Chairman for NFU Cymru, Gwyn Price, was keen to hear from Professor Powell how local farmers could play a role, and perhaps, benefit, from the challenge of climate change.

In response, Professor Wayne Powell explained how IBERS translates science into practical solutions that could improve farming incomes and reduce carbon emissions at the same time. He illustrated the results of the latest research carried out at IBERS which focuses on reducing methane emissions from livestock through nutritional intervention. Current work at the IBERS Research Centre also includes plant breeding programmes which increase crop yields and finding crops which are less reliant on water. The use of grasses with a higher sugar content is currently being researched which in turn could result in lower levels of methane from ruminants being generated.

Ed Bailey, NFU Cymru Vice President, described Professor Powell’s address as both fascinating and thought provoking.

Gwyn Price, a beef, sheep and egg producer from Llanbadarn Fynydd said, "We’re very grateful to Professor Powell for coming to speak to Brecon and Radnor NFU Cymru members and highlighting some of the major challenges that we face in agriculture and how science, and particularly IBERS, can play a role. Our thanks also go to HSBC Bank Plc for sponsoring the event."