Farming 'must make big changes'

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An independent report on the future of farming in Wales has called for fundamental changes to secure a long term and successful industry by 2020.

The report warns that retaining young farmers, increasing profitability, and developing greater collaboration in food supply and marketing is crucial.

There is also a clear target for Welsh farms to become carbon neutral by 2020.

The report and its 67 recommendations were welcomed by the Welsh Assembly Government as a "major piece of work".

The independent report was commissioned by the assembly government in April 2006, to examine the long-term options for securing a sustainable future for farming and the rural economy.

The 2020 Group defined a clear vision for the future of farming, "to achieve a profitable, competitive and sustainable agricultural industry that is responsive to consumer demand, helps to sustain the environment of Wales and supports the maintenance of healthy, balanced rural communities."

The report has also identified three main priorities:<ul class="bulletList"><li>Connecting to the market</li><li>Delivering environmental goods and services</li><li>Contributing to the sustainability of rural communities</li></ul>

The group was chaired by farmer William Legge-Bourke and included fellow farmers, animal and agricultural experts, academics and representatives of the food and retail sectors.

Their report warns that "unless fundamental changes in attitudes and practices begin now, the critical mass of Welsh farming may deteriorate to such an extent that those advantages that Wales should have in the long term would be unattainable."

Moreover, that "by that time many farmers and their successors will have left the industry with disastrous results for the economic, cultural and environmental structure of rural Wales."

'Significant'

The report has made 67 specific recommendations, including sustained collaborative marketing, better branding for premium Welsh products, and increasing the procurement of Welsh food by the public sector.

Climate change is also identified as a major priority, with demands for a micro-generation target and further research to help farmers to adapt and mitigate climate change.

There is also a specific target for the agricultural industry to work towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2020.

Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones welcomed the report as "a major piece of work that will be influential in shaping the Welsh Assembly Government's longer term strategy for farming and the countryside".

The minister will now consider the content of the report, which she described as a "significant contribution to the debate on the future of farming and the environment in Wales towards 2020".