The Welsh Liberal Democrats have welcomed a £7.3m EU-backed funding
package to assist agri-food businesses and develop agricultural
skills in Wales.
European Union funding will support BioInnovation Wales and
Future Foods, two initiatives led by the Institute of Biological,
Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth
University, in partnership with Swansea University and BIC
Innovation respectively.
Welsh Liberal Democrat President Cllr said:
“This is a win for Wales.
“BioInnovation Wales will address skills shortages
in the agri-food and biotech sector offering bespoke, accredited
qualifications to meet agricultural industry
needs. Future Foods aims to support innovation
and competiveness, harnessing science, technology and
cutting-edge research, for Welsh food businesses seeking to grow
their European and international export markets.
“Wales has been winning investment because of the UK’s EU
membership. Funding for projects such as these will likely be
lost because of Brexit, especially a Hard Brexit which takes us
out of the Single Market. This would be a disaster for Welsh
agriculture. That is why I am campaigning for ‘A People’s Vote’
on the final Brexit deal.”
Former Welsh Lib Dem MP for Ceredigion commented:
“This welcome news illustrates just how important how EU
membership has been and is for the economy of Ceredigion. Time
after time we have benefited from funding from the EU, and the
excellent work of IBERS illustrates that fact.”
James Gibson-Watt, Welsh Lib Dem Cllr for Glasbury and an
Aberystwyth University Agriculture graduate added:
“At the very least, the Tories must stick to their promises and
make sure they match every penny of lost EU funding for Welsh
farming and the research and training providers that support
agriculture.”
