They met with the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary
for Rural Affairs AM, as well as
representatives from the Royal Welsh Agricultural
Society, Farmers Union Wales and NFU Cymru, to discuss
future farming policy once we leave the EU.
Earlier this month the Secretary of State welcomed the
proposals from the Welsh Government to replace the EU’s
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and make the most of
the new freedoms provided by Brexit.
He also reiterated the need for Defra and the Welsh
Government to work closely to reduce the bureaucracy
faced by farms on the Wales-England border, addressing
some of the points raised in response to Defra’s public
consultation.
Later in the afternoon he visited the Food Hall –
sponsored by Food is GREAT – which celebrates fantastic
local produce including:
- Snowdonia Cheese – The Snowdonia Cheese Company was
established in 2001 and has created a luxury range of
cheeses from around the lakes and mountains of North
Wales
- Anglesey Sea Salt – the finest sea salt from the
clean waters that surround Anglesey, produced by food
company Halen Môn and used in some of the best
restaurants worldwide
- Lochmeyler Farm Ice Cream – a family dairy farm
making ice cream from its 350 free-range cows, with
flavours including blackberry, ginger and Pembrokeshire
salted caramel
- Blodyn Aur – translated as ‘Golden Flower’, this is
Welsh rapeseed oil grown and pressed on a farm near the
village of Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr
- Apple County Cider – award-winning ciders from
orchards on the Monmouthshire hills
Environment Secretary said:
It is a pleasure to be here in this beautiful part of
Wales for one of the biggest and best agricultural
events of the year.
As we leave the EU we have a once in a lifetime
opportunity to transform our food, farming and
environmental policies. We expect to see more powers
than ever before being granted to the Welsh
government, and we are continuing to work closely to
deliver a Brexit that will benefit Welsh farmers and
consumers.
Secretary of State for Wales said:
I am delighted to welcome the Environment Secretary
to the Royal Welsh Show once again. It’s a wonderful
showcase for the quality of our livestock, food and
drink and farm produce, highlighted by the hundreds
of thousands of visitors who flock to Builth Wells
year upon year to experience this showpiece event.
From multi-million pound investments in superfast
broadband to supporting innovation in the agri-tech
sector through our modern Industrial Strategy, we are
delivering the measures needed to support the
agricultural industry in Wales. As we move into the
final stages of EU exit negotiations, we are stepping
up our engagement to make sure the voices of the
sector are heard.
To find out more about the Royal Welsh Show, which runs
until 26 July, please see here
