Cabinet Secretary Meets Young Farmers To Discuss Future Of Industry Post-Brexit

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, has today met with Wales’ next generation of farmers to answer questions on the prospects of the industry post–Brexit. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During a visit to Coleg Cambria’s Llysfasi campus, which specialises in agriculture and farm skill courses, the Cabinet Secretary agreed to take questions from the aspiring farmers about the future of the industry in Wales following the decision for the UK to leave the EU. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Cabinet Secretary reassured the students a key priority for the Welsh Government is to secure unfettered access to the EU Single Market, with many concerned restricted EU market access would have an adverse effect on the industry. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The subject of EU funding was also raised, with the Cabinet Secretary saying she would expect the UK Government to make good on the commitment made during the referendum campaign that Wales would not lose a penny as a result of leaving the EU. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Cabinet Secretary said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s been encouraging to meet students at Coleg Cambria today and listen to their concerns, hopes and ambitions for the agriculture industry post-Brexit. As young farmers, they are the future of the industry and it is important their views on decisions which will affect them greatly are heard. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Since the referendum I have been engaging with a wide range of stakeholders to identify the full implications exiting the EU will have on the farming, food and environment sectors. Leaving the EU provides us with the opportunity to create a new, made in Wales approach and it’s important we work together to achieve the best outcome possible for Wales.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

David Jones OBE CEO at Coleg Cambria said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are delighted that the Cabinet Secretary is able to join us at Llysfasi today. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s very pleasing to have the opportunity to showcase the innovative work that is taking place at our Llysfasi site and demonstrate our role in the development and retention of skills within the sector. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s also a wonderful chance for our students to question the minister first hand on the implications of leaving the EU on the future of the agriculture industry in Wales.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​