FOR years the farming industry and our red meat and dairy produce have come under fire from every corner and camp conceivable.

The science to back claims that livestock production is destroying habitats and pushing climate change along, and that eating red meat and dairy products is making us sick, is as changeable as the weather in Wales - and about as reliable.

The narrative pushed by the anti-livestock lobby however has been steady and is gaining momentum, with some going as far as arguing that we should be cutting global production and consumption of animal products by 50% by 2040.

Decision makers at all government levels, from Welsh Government right up to the United Nations, are listening. And so are our consumers. Some might struggle to see past the smoke and mirrors, created in part by those who have moral objections to keeping livestock and some who have a vested interest in boosting sales of non-meat food products.

That sounds problematic to us to say the least, but should also be a major concern for those who care about the Welsh economies, landscape and environments which rely on livestock farming.

Members will know that the FUW has long stressed that Wales’ food producers adhere to a plethora of costly regulatory requirements relating to environmental, food and animal health standards.

Future plans or targets which place Welsh producers at a disadvantage - or which are met at the expense of food production - will inevitably offset the efforts made by the agricultural sector towards mitigating climate change.

Why? Because making Welsh food more expensive will simply lead to the UK importing more food, thereby intensifying environmental issues elsewhere whilst undermining the viability of farm businesses here in Wales.

Many green recovery proposals, including what’s currently being mooted at UN level, suggest reduced stocking levels.

However, numerous studies have documented that reductions in grazing and the subsequent loss in vegetation structure can result in adverse impacts for bird species such as the golden plover and curlew - now considered the most pressing bird conservation priority in the UK.

Knocking on our door are the United Nations Food Systems Summit and COP26 and we have been engaging with these conversations at an international level and share some concerns with other industries across the globe about the wider narrative and ambitions set out in inconspicuous looking documents.

Plans, we and the general public don't support. Telling the positive story of the guardians of our Welsh land is now more important than ever to address these damaging proposals.

Kind regards,

Glyn Roberts

President

Farmers Union of Wales