Welsh Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs,
, has today confirmed Wales
will move away from Basic Payments and support farmers through a
new sustainable farming scheme post-Brexit.
Speaking during a plenary debate about the ‘Brexit and our Land’
consultation, the Minister will outline a number of policy
changes following detailed consideration of the responses
received.
Sustainable land management will be at the heart of future farm
support in Wales once the UK leaves the European Union.
Plans include bringing together the originally proposed economic
resilience and public goods schemes in ‘Brexit and our Land’ into
a new single sustainable farming scheme.
Sustainable food production is major part of this. The
consultation has shown a wide range of public goods can be
produced alongside food production.
The policy changes announced today will be explored in detail in
a forthcoming consultation, which will be published in advance of
the Royal Welsh Show.
A summary of responses to the ‘Brexit and our Land’ consultation
has also been published today along with the Welsh Government’s
response.
The Minister said: “Last year, we carried out one of our
largest agriculture consultations on how we support Welsh farmers
and land post-Brexit. We had strong and wide ranging
responses and I am extremely grateful to everyone who engaged in
the discussion.
“I have carefully considered the views expressed and these have
helped adapt our approach. Today I am announcing a number
of changes to our policy proposals which will be explored in
detail in our forthcoming consultation.
“The case for reform remains and a new approach is needed.
This Government has therefore decided Basic Payments Scheme will
come to an end in Wales. Instead, we want to put
sustainability at the heart of our future support, balancing the
needs of current generation with our obligations to the next.
“Reflecting on the consultation responses, I am proposing a new
single sustainable farming scheme, allowing us to explore
economic, environmental and social opportunities at the same
time.
“We will propose an annual payment to farmers in return for the
environmental outcomes delivered on their farm - targeted at
reversing biodiversity decline, meeting our carbon budgets and
hitting our clean air targets.
“The responses to the consultation highlighted the production of
food and the production of public goods can go hand in
hand. In many cases, the same action, done in the right
way, can contribute to both outcomes. We want to pay for
these environmental outcomes. In this way, we can support
sustainable food production. I look forward to publishing
further details for consultation ahead of the Royal Welsh Show.
“By promoting sustainable land management, we can work together
to create a system which helps farmers thrive, harness the value
of Welsh land and secure a prosperous, resilient agricultural
sector in Wales.”
