Janet Finch-Saunders MS - the Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Energy and Rural Affairs – has today (2 December) urged the Welsh Government to ‘plough ahead’ with her proposals to champion Welsh food. Her comments came as part of the Senedd debate.
The Shadow Minister used the debate as an opportunity to highlight that the Welsh Government should:
- create more sites for food markets;
- develop a network of food hubs;
- support community herb and vegetable gardens;
- make orchards of disused publicly owned green spaces;
- support the development of food processors in Wales;
- introduce a Local Food and Drink Charter to encourage shops, cafés, and restaurants to sell locally sourced Welsh food and drink and help promote the scheme to consumers;
- develop food and drink trails and experiences for every constituency across Wales;
- boost public procurement of items grown and made in Wales;
- work with Her Majesty’s Government to promote Welsh food and drink overseas;
- introduce a statutory target for improving the shelf-life of Welsh lamb so that it can better compete with New Zealand.
The Member's ideas puts Welsh food, farmers, and localism first.
Commenting on a lively and important contribution, Janet said:
“The pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of our current food system, and shown that our nation’s farmers are open to a disproportionate share of risks. For example, there was heartbreaking devastation in the diary sector, with the FUW suggesting that almost 50% of dairy businesses in Wales have been highly impacted as a result of the pandemic.
“This is why I have urged the Welsh Government to plough ahead with proposals to champion Welsh food, such as fostering more sites for food markets and developing a network of food hubs. These will help to further establish Wales as a food destination, for tourists and day trippers once conditions allow.
“I have been a strong proponent of plans to introduce a Local Food and Drink Charter as a way to encourage shops, cafés, and restaurants to sell locally sourced Welsh produce. After all, there is no better way to support farmers and Welsh produce than us, the people of Wales, buying Welsh.
“There is certainly more that the Welsh Government can do in the here and now to support producers, both in terms of exports and the domestic market. For some time now, I have been calling on the Minister to introduce a statutory target for improving the shelf-life of Welsh lamb, so that it can better compete with New Zealand. There is global potential to tap into.
“But to realise this potential, the Welsh Government must also work with Her Majesty’s Government to promote Welsh food and drink overseas. This is especially true if we are to tap into emerging international markets. But, without a coherent national vision on food, this plans will continue to be stymied.”
ENDS
