The Welsh Conservatives have today pledged to put food security at the heart of national security policy, warning that Wales has become increasingly reliant on imported food after decades of decline in domestic agricultural production.
Andrew RT Davies said Wales needed a long-term plan to reverse the fall in food production, invest in farming and encourage the next generation into agriculture.
Thirty years ago, around 75 per cent of the food consumed in the UK was produced in the UK.
Today, that figure has fallen to less than 60 per cent, leaving the country more exposed to global shocks and international conflicts.
Andrew RT Davies MS, Shadow Minister for Farming and the Environment, said:
“Food security is national security. In an increasingly uncertain world, we cannot afford to become ever more reliant on imported food from overseas.
“Thirty years ago, this country produced around three quarters of the food we consumed. Today that has fallen to less than 60 per cent. That decline should concern everyone.
“Instead of taking productive farmland out of use or making life harder for our farming families, we should be backing them to produce the food our country needs.
“Farmers are the custodians of our countryside and the backbone of our rural economy, but above all they are the people who put food on our tables.
“We want to reverse the decline in food production by investing in Welsh agriculture, embracing innovation and ensuring farming remains a modern, vibrant part of our economy.
“The Welsh Conservatives will always stand up for our farmers and prioritise food security.”
Welsh Conservatives unveil plans to ease rural housing pressure by converting redundant farm buildings
The Welsh Conservatives have announced a new policy to help tackle Wales’ rural housing shortage by making it easier for farmers to convert redundant agricultural buildings into homes without needing full planning permission.
The proposal would introduce a Welsh equivalent of England’s Class Q permitted development rights, enabling suitable farm buildings to be converted into residential properties while retaining important planning safeguards through a prior approval process.
Under the proposals, conversions would remain subject to prior approval by the local planning authority for specific issues and risks including transport and flooding.
As in England, the policy would not apply within national parks, national landscapes, conservation areas or other protected landscapes.
The changes would increase housing supply at no additional cost to the taxpayer, provide farmers with greater flexibility to diversify their businesses and help address the estimated unmet housing need across Wales.
Andrew RT Davies MS, Shadow Minister for Farming and the Environment, said:
“Wales is facing a housing crisis, particularly in our rural communities where too many young people and local families are being priced out of the places where they grew up.
“At the same time, many farms have redundant buildings that could be transformed into much-needed homes without building on productive farmland or greenfield sites.
“The Welsh Conservatives would introduce a Welsh version of England’s successful Class Q permitted development rights, making it easier for farmers to convert suitable agricultural buildings that are surplus to requirement into homes.
“This is a common-sense reform that would support farming businesses, boost the rural economy and deliver more homes where they are needed most.
“Over the last 27 years, Labour and Plaid Cymru have failed to get to grips with the housing crisis. We are bringing forward practical solutions that make better use of existing buildings, strengthen rural communities and help the next generation stay in the countryside.”
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