How could Wales feed itself by 2035?

Professor Gavin Bunting (co-chair): It has been a privilege co-chairing the “How Could Wales Feed Itself” working group along with Sarah Dickins. First off all, I would like to thank our working group members for their significant time and
dedication, and for everyone who participated in the engagement process. Production of this pathway would not have been possible without them.

The food system is critical to our success in addressing climate change and ensuring the wellbeing of Wales. Our land and marine environments are unique in being able to address climate change through removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but they are also highly vulnerable to the
impacts of a changing climate and the way we produce our food, and also contribute to emissions.

We need to move to a system where food emissions are minimised and nature and biodiversity can thrive and act as a carbon sink.

We have tackled this issue through the lens of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act. Which means that we are also addressing highly important issues such as diet related health issues, affordability of food, food security and how we can maintain and enhance our rural communities. This has been informed by a process of open engagement with stakeholders across the food system in Wales.

The pathways outlined in this document will take Wales towards a place where:
– Support is in place for farmers in Wales to embrace low carbon, sustainable, farming.
– There are vibrant markets for local, affordable and nutritional, sustainable food.
– All people in Wales have access to a healthy, affordable, sustainable diet, resulting in
reduced health inequalities.
– The Welsh food system is resilient and diverse.

Dr Judith Thornton: Developing the food report has been an interesting journey. We were a diverse group, spanning farmers, academics and ecologists. Looking at food through the lens of the Future Generations Act has been particularly helpful, because it meant that we started from a very holistic perspective; the relationship between food and net zero in Wales goes far beyond what we produce in Wales and what we import and export, and it’s important to think about the wider picture of what our land is really for, and what it means to the people who live here. We will need to re-evaluate how we use land, making space for nature and biodiversity enhancements, soil carbon sequestration, and peat restoration to improve our flood resilience, as well as the production of a wider range of food than current day practice. We’ll need to do all of this whilst ensuring that we don’t simply move the problems or create new ones in other countries. The challenge of changing our food system to one consistent with net zero emissions is huge, but the benefits to our health, to the environment and to society at large mean that it’s a challenge worth tackling.

Rachel Sharp: It’s key that action to address climate change doesn’t further exacerbate the nature crisis. There are real opportunities for nature to help Wales adapt to our changing climate. Nature can store carbon and alleviate flooding providing public goods that all Welsh citizens will increasingly need. Nature-based solutions must form a bedrock of change if Wales is to achieve Net Zero