The White Paper on Agriculture in Wales sets out a
series of proposals paving the way for an Agriculture (Wales)
Bill, which will be introduced in the next Senedd term.
The plans aim to maintain high food safety, animal welfare
and environmental standards in Wales and will be underpinned
by a simpler regulatory framework and improved enforcement.
The White Paper outlines how farmers will be supported to
produce food in a sustainable way. The plans will also enable
farmers to respond to the climate emergency and to help
reverse the decline in biodiversity – addressing the Welsh
Government’s three key objectives for the sector.
Proposals will see the replacement of the current Basic
Payment Scheme and agri-environment schemes with a new
Sustainable Farming Scheme. The scheme will place a proper
value on the environmental outcomes farmers deliver (improved
soils, clean air, clean water, improved biodiversity, actions
to reduce global warming) alongside sustainable food
production.
New National Minimum Standards for agriculture will be
created and consulted upon.To support this, we will create a
new enforcement regime, using a range of civil sanctions
proportionate to each individual case whilst maintaining
criminal sanctions for the most severe and repeat offences.
Other proposals in the White Paper include supporting wider
supply chains beyond the farm gate, rewarding farmers for
creating and maintaining woodland, simplification of data
collection and monitoring, supporting the sector to
decarbonise and improving animal health and welfare
management.
The White Paper is open for consultation until 25 March 2021.
The Minister also announced today her intention to continue
with BPS in 2022, subject to confirmation of funding from the
UK Government. This will provide further certainty to farm
businesses in the period leading up to the introduction of
our proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme.
Launching the White Paper, the Environment, Energy and Rural
Affairs Minister said: “Leaving the EU provides us with an
opportunity to develop a system of agricultural support which
is tailored for Wales. We have consulted and engaged widely
over the last two years and today’s White Paper sets out our
long term vision to take this forward and introduce the
necessary legislation.
“We want to support Welsh farmers to thrive, produce
sustainable food and contribute to the climate emergency. The
scale of the challenges that confront us means we need to act
decisively now so we can ensure rural communities will
continue to benefit from our support for years to come.
“We are clear we want to maintain our high food safety,
animal welfare and environmental standards in Wales, and this
will be underpinned by a simpler regulatory framework with
proportionate enforcement. Our proposals will mark a radical
shift away from the CAP to sustain a productive agriculture
sector in Wales that supports the rural economy whilst
improving the condition of soil, air, water and habitats.
“I want farmers to see our proposals as an opportunity rather
than an approach that restricts their ‘freedom to farm’. We
are ready to continue working with farmers to achieve our
common goals of a sustainable and resilient sector whilst
addressing the pressing challenges we face. We can only do
this by working together – have your say by 25 March 2021.”
ENDS
