Cyflwynwyd yr ymateb hwn i’r ymgynghoriad ar y Bil Bwyd (Cymru) Drafft

This response was submitted to the consultation on the Draft Food (Wales) Bill

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Ymateb gan: | Response from: National Sheep Association

The National Sheep Association is a charitable company that represents the views of sheep farmers through a membership structure across the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Question 1: Do you agree with the overarching principles that the Bill seeks to achieve?

Yes

NSA would advocate that to become more food secure as a nation we must utilise the produce grown on our doorstep, providing support and legislation that protects and provides opportunities for our primary producers in Wales, in turn affording them with the ability to reinvest in delivering high environmental and animal welfare outcomes. NSA would advocate for Welsh produce, being world renowned for its high environmental, welfare and health standards with a huge number of these standards being entrenched in law, to be at the heart of any future food, trade, health & environmental policy.

Question 2: Do you think there is a need for this legislation? Can you provide reasons for your answer

Yes

Especially when considering the primary food goal, Welsh produce is renowned as being some of the most sustainable and environmentally friendly in the world, ensure that consumers, not only in Wales but across Britain, have access to that produce is vital.

When considering the secondary food goals; creating new economic opportunities through promotion of locally produced food. Promoting sustainable economic, social and community development. Encouraging better links between food producers and consumers. NSA would advocate for the value of Welsh produce in meeting and surpassing those aspirations. The key will be to ensure retailers and public sector bodies are committed to sourcing sustainable & locally procured produce.

Question 3: Please provide your views on the inclusion of the Food Goals within the Bill as the means to underpin the policy objectives.

NSA would support the inclusion of Food Goals within the Bill to ensure there is direction and continuity amongst sectors

Question 4: Do you agree with the inclusion of a Primary Food Goal supplemented by Secondary Food Goals?

Yes

Question 5: Are there additional / different areas you think should be included in the Food Goals?

NSA believe that the importance of sourcing Welsh produce wherever possible through public bodies and retailers should be a priority. Ensuring that the environmental credentials and quality of Welsh produce is represented in the best way possible but also investing through the SFS in baseline accounting tools that ensure the representation of Welsh farming credentials is represented accurately.

Question 6: Do you have any additional comments on the Food Goals, including the resource implications of the proposals and how these could be minimised?

Welsh producers are already held to particularly high standards through industry but also through regulations, ensuring retailers and public bodies support those producers will be key to achieving a more food secure nation. NSA would support the increased quality and accessibility of educational provision on food-related issues. Furthermore, NSA would advocate the importance of Welsh produce in achieving secondary goals especially when tackling environmental impacts and reducing food waste. Further investment is needed in the local food supply chain, including cold storage facilities, localised processing, and support for small abattoirs. Britain as a whole has the capacity to be over 100% self sufficient in lamb, taking advantage of this by extending the storage capacity – in turn extending the British & Welsh lamb season would be extremely beneficial to the industry but also rural economy.

Question 11: What are your views on the need for a Welsh Food Commission?

NSA would agree that there is a need for a Welsh Food Commission that is independent from government and that represents the voices of the primary production industry. NSA would strongly advocate that the Welsh Food Commission act as one of many consultees for the Food Strategy and in setting food targets and that any future targets and strategies and consulted on widely within the agricultural industry.

Question 16: Do you agree that there is a need for a national food strategy?

Yes

Question 17: Do you believe the Welsh Government’s current strategies relating to ‘food’ are sufficiently joined up / coherent?

It is absolutely vital that the development of the national food strategy is joined up with the development of future farming schemes and investment in processing and distribution. Farmers and producers must have a clear directive as to what is expected of them and the agricultural industry and public bodies and retailers must be completely clear as to the social, economic and environmental benefits of sourcing Welsh produce. Ensuring that there is communication amongst government departments is vital in ensuring any future goals and outcomes are achievable.

Question 18: Does the draft Bill do enough to ensure that Welsh Ministers take advice and consult on the strategy before it is made. If no, what additional mechanisms would you put in place?

Any future food strategy must be consulted on widely with the primary producers and processors/distributors that are key to success and achieving desired outcomes. NSA would particularly like to see a collaborative and joined up approach to food and farming and would encourage government at all opportunities to communicate with the primary producer.

Question 19: Do you think the provisions of the draft Bill relating to reporting on the national food strategy are sufficient? If not, what changes would you like to see?

NSA is encouraged to see accountability from the Senedd and would support the 2 year reporting on progress to ensure that any food strategy is held to account rather just aspirational.

Question 21: Do you have any additional comments on the National Food Strategy, including the resource implications of the proposals and how these could be minimised?

This Food Strategy should provide much needed certainty to the farming sector in Wales along with policy direction, there should be a recognition from the Senedd of the importance of the Welsh primary production sectors and acknowledge the vital economic, social, and environmental role farming provides to Wales. The past 3 years has highlighted just how fragile the food systems are around the world therefore ensuring our domestic producers are at the heart of any future Food Strategy will be invaluable in achieving any proposed outcomes.

Question 22: Do you agree that there is a need for local food plans?

Yes

These should be underpinned by the National Food Strategy. How these plans address the primary and secondary goals in a sustainable manor must also be monitored. Again Welsh produce must be at the heart of these plans wherever possible, having some of the most sustainable, nutrient rich food on our doorstep must not and cannot be overlooked in the race to meet targets.

Please provide any additional information relevant to the draft Bill.

NSA is extremely keen to see commitment to sourcing Welsh produce and would urge the Senedd to commit to a joined-up approach across a Food Strategy and the Sustainable Farming Scheme, ensuring that sustainable food production is at the heart of both. The agricultural industry across Wales is especially keen to have some solid commitment and policy direction to ensure that food production is not overlooked in favour of greenwashing or carbon trading.