Kirsty calls for WAG to support hill farmers to ensure future food security (Kirsty Williams AM )

Cymraeg
English

Kirsty Williams AM <info@kirstywilliams.org.uk>

Kirsty calls for WAG to support hill farmers to ensure future food security

November 18, 2009 12:00 AM

k with lamb Kirsty Williams AM for Brecon and Radnorshire has today called upon the Minister for Rural Affairs to take action to ensure the future food security of Wales.

Kirsty Williams said:" Due to the world's fast growing population, increasing oil prices and environmental concerns, our future food security is as important now as it was during the rationing of the 2nd World War.

"The Welsh population is projected to increase to 3.14 million by 2018, an increase of 5% and to 3.35 million by 2033, an increase of 12%. In order to meet the demand of feeding these extra mouths, whilst also addressing environmental concerns, we need to see an increase in local Welsh food production. It is worrying therefore that between 1997 and October 2008 the number of milk producers had almost halved from 4,270 to 2,143. Moreover between 2005 and 2007 the total Welsh income from farming decreased from £142m to £51.8m, whilst England in comparison saw an increase over this period from £1.415bn to £1.63bn.

"By supporting local Welsh food we are not just future-proofing ourselves for self-sufficiency, we are also reducing our food miles and helping our local economies and farming industry. From field to fork our food currently creates up to half of all greenhouse gas emissions, so tackling climate change is clearly linked to producing our own food.

"The Welsh Government has an important role to play in this. One measure is to secure our hill top land; to ensure its future use and profitability. If the current decline in hill farming continues, no young people will realistically be able to make a decent living from hill farming. This has a serious knock on effect for both the wider farming community but also for the management of this land. By supporting the hill farming industry, which tends to farm on a smaller scale and uses more environmentally friendly methods, we are not only assuring the future of this traditional way of life and of the rural communities they serve, but also we are adding to the security of our food supply.

"If we are to achieve true food security the Welsh Government must lead by example in supporting the Welsh farming industry, where possible they must use Welsh produce when procuring food. They must also take greater action to support smaller farmers in getting fairer prices from the mammoth supermarkets. The must actively support research into improving the efficiency and sustainability of farming.

Notes:

By 2030 the global population is expected to reach 8.3 billion, this will be matched with an expected 50% increase on the current level of demand for food, increasing further by a colossal 100% by 2050. Last year's soaring grain prices and food riots were yet another warning that food security is the most basic necessity there is. The UK is very much reliant upon international food production, being only 60% self sufficient. Even when looking solely at products which can be grown within the UK, the country is still only 72% self-sufficient. This leaves us dangerously unguarded against international production instability, increases in transport costs and importantly leaves a lot of room for action to reduce our emissions footprint and cut back on our food miles.