Meetings

NDM7963 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the vital contribution that farmers and rural communities make to the health and prosperity of the nation;

2. Notes the negative impact on global food security stemming from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the direct effect it has on people in Wales;

3. Believes that there needs to be an environmental and food production revolution in Wales;

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) convene a food summit including farmers, processors and retailers, so Wales can play its part in growing its food production base and boosting food security;

b) use the proposed Agriculture (Wales) Bill to enshrine food security as a public good;

c) make food security a key cornerstone of future support for Welsh farmers, including incentives;

d) support the proposed Food (Wales) Bill.

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete points 3 and 4 and replace with:

Regrets that the most immediate threat to food security for people living in Wales today is the cost-of-living crisis created by the Conservative UK Government.

Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) develop a Wales Community Food Strategy to encourage the production and supply of locally-sourced food in Wales, supporting our communities to bring about positive change in our food system;

b) create a new system of farm support acknowledging ecologically sustainable local food production, reflecting the UN principles of Sustainable Land Management.

[If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be de-selected]

Amendment 2 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

Delete point 4 and replace with:

Notes the importance of productive small family farms in sustaining the economy, language and culture in rural Wales.

Believes cuts to Wales’s agricultural funding from the UK Government, alongside new Free Trade Deals with countries like Australia and New Zealand, will have a further negative impact on Welsh food security and production.

Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) convene a food summit including farmers, processors and retailers, so Wales can play its part in growing its food production base and boosting food security;

b) protect food security and production through providing stability payments as part of the next farming support scheme;

c) develop ways to reduce input costs for food producers and suppliers, to lower the cost of the food they produce for consumers.

The item started at 17.03

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM7963 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the vital contribution that farmers and rural communities make to the health and prosperity of the nation;

2. Notes the negative impact on global food security stemming from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the direct effect it has on people in Wales;

3. Believes that there needs to be an environmental and food production revolution in Wales;

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) convene a food summit including farmers, processors and retailers, so Wales can play its part in growing its food production base and boosting food security;

b) use the proposed Agriculture (Wales) Bill to enshrine food security as a public good;

c) make food security a key cornerstone of future support for Welsh farmers, including incentives;

d) support the proposed Food (Wales) Bill.

The motion without amendment was not agreed.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Lesley Griffiths (Wrexham)

Delete points 3 and 4 and replace with:

Regrets that the most immediate threat to food security for people living in Wales today is the cost-of-living crisis created by the Conservative UK Government.

Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) develop a Wales Community Food Strategy to encourage the production and supply of locally-sourced food in Wales, supporting our communities to bring about positive change in our food system;

b) create a new system of farm support acknowledging ecologically sustainable local food production, reflecting the UN principles of Sustainable Land Management.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was agreed.

[As amendment 1 was agreed, amendment 2 was de-selected]

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM7963 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the vital contribution that farmers and rural communities make to the health and prosperity of the nation;

2. Notes the negative impact on global food security stemming from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the direct effect it has on people in Wales;

3. Regrets that the most immediate threat to food security for people living in Wales today is the cost-of-living crisis created by the Conservative UK Government.

Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) develop a Wales Community Food Strategy to encourage the production and supply of locally-sourced food in Wales, supporting our communities to bring about positive change in our food system;

b) create a new system of farm support acknowledging ecologically sustainable local food production, reflecting the UN principles of Sustainable Land Management.

The motion as amended was agreed.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 18.01 proceedings were suspended to allow a technical break before Voting Time.