Representatives from NFU Cymru have met with the Welsh Government First Minister and Rural Affairs Cabinet Secretary to discuss the next steps for Welsh farming after the EU Referendum result.
NFU Cymru President Stephen James and Director John Mercer, joined by figures from across the Welsh agriculture and environment fraternity, met with First Minister, Carwyn Jones AM, and Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths AM, at the Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay on Monday 4th July.
During the meeting Stephen James and John Mercer called on the Welsh Government to be ‘ambitious, imaginative and brave in its thinking’ to create a Welsh agricultural policy that will enable Welsh agriculture to lead on a national, European and world stage.
The duo also stressed the importance of Welsh Government working in partnership with NFU Cymru, the wider industry and the supply chain ‘to turn ambition into reality’.
Speaking after the meeting, Stephen James, NFU Cymru President, said: "We thank the First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for meeting with us to discuss our vision for the future of Welsh agriculture post-Brexit.
"While we are currently in a period of uncertainty, the EU Referendum result presents us with a great opportunity to reshape trade and environmental policies.
"We want to develop an overall Welsh agricultural policy that is fit for purpose, forward thinking and enables us to develop, grow and realise NFU Cymru’s ambition for a productive, progressive and profitable industry that will result in jobs, growth and investment for Wales.
"There is no question that there is a lot of work to do and there are some important decisions to be made, but I firmly believe that at NFU Cymru we are ideally placed to work with Welsh Government and lead the way to a framework that works to the benefit of Welsh farmers and Welsh communities."
This morning, there will be a special meeting of the NFU Cymru Welsh Council to discuss its key priorities in further detail against the backdrop of the EU Referendum leave vote.
