The Welsh Conservative’s Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Energy and Rural Affairs – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – has today (29 July) called on the Welsh Government to ‘level up’ its support of the nation’s agri-tech sector.
Her calls come as the UK Government has announced that will provide funding support to nine innovative projects across England that apply big data, AI and robotics to farming in order to help establish a more efficient system of food production.
Speaking of the Welsh agri-tech sector, Janet said:
“I welcome this funding news from the Conservative UK Government in Westminster and urge the Welsh Government to begin fostering its own age of farming innovation, by levelling up its funding commitments to the Welsh agri-tech sector.
“By supporting this form of forward-thinking and progressive farming, the Welsh Government can safeguard our nation’s farmers from falling behind in this quickly evolving global economy.
“As such technology often helps to improve crop production in a sustainable and environmentally conscious fashion, this move will work to increase efficiency whilst supporting broader policy aims to reduce Wales’ carbon emissions.
“Providing funding support for these exciting agri-tech innovations will also embolden cross-sector working. This means that support for the sector will also likely benefit our nation’s world-leading Universities, fledgling graduates and thriving start-up technology scene."
ENDS
Photo: Melissa Askew/UnSplash
