On 28 January 2024, thousands of Welsh farmers and their supporters gathered outside the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) in Cardiff to voice their dissatisfaction with the local government's proposed response. Since the UK left the European Union, policy decisions on agricultural subsidies have been left to the governments of the four member states. In Wales, the proposed Sustainable Agriculture Plan The SFS requires participants to dedicate at least 10 percent of their land to “biodiversity habitat” and another 10 percent to “tree cover.” In other words, farmers are being asked to do the same work on 20 percent less land.
Jones is well aware of the potential for sweeping, beneficial change within and beyond the agricultural industry, and speaks of how to “build a better Britain” by improving soil quality and human health simultaneously. He points out that farmers who have relied on subsidies for decades are falling victim to blanket policies that don't take into account whether the land is suitable for habitat creation or tree planting.
Gareth articulates the government's failure to manage the one-sided relationship between farmers and supermarkets. He anticipates a future of increased nutrient density and considers the impact of removing subsidies altogether. The Welsh farmers' movement faces a daunting challenge – one that the government that dictates such policies has yet to meaningfully address itself.
Gareth Wyn Jones Farm Tinluwifan Above Llanfairfechan Youtube and About X.
