A new series of films from WWF Cymru hopes to highlight the ways in which Welsh farmers can adopt climate and nature friendly, regenerative farming practices. Farming is at the heart of how we use land in Wales; how we shape agriculture policy in this country is crucial to restoring nature, reducing emissions and providing healthy affordable, sustainable food for future generations.
The Agriculture Act for Wales
To respond to the urgent climate and nature crises, we need a strong and ambitious new Agriculture Act for Wales. This is our opportunity to make sure future farming systems in Wales will work for nature, climate and people, including Welsh farmers.
Nearly 90% of Wales is farmland, so it is crucial that the act supports farmers and their livelihoods, whilst protecting the land and its biodiversity.
Agro-ecological farming methods increase land resilience and enable it to better adapt to extreme weather and other environmental stresses associated with climate change. More and more farmers are seeing the benefits of this approach.
To highlight this point, WWF Cymru have captured the journeys of three farms across Wales who have each taken steps to become regenerative, showing how they embed agro-ecological practices to benefit both their business – and the planet.
Rest Farm, Carmarthenshire
Aled Evans is a pioneering grassland manager who farms regeneratively on land between the Preseli mountains and patchwork fields of rural Carmarthenshire. Here, Aled explains how by he has adapted his conventional Welsh family dairy farm by switching to nature friendly farming to create a thriving, resilient family business. What’s more, through grassland work they got to know Honest Burgers, who they now supply directly via the Honest Farming project, along with two ethical butchers in London.
In 2021, in recognition of their pioneering, profitable, nature-friendly farming approach, Aled and Iwan won Beef Farmer of the Year in the Farmer’s Weekly awards.
Tyddyn Teg, Caernarfon
Tyddyn Teg is a cooperatively run agro-ecological vegetable farm near Caernarfon. The farm works in harmony with nature to grow 30 acres of produce without any pesticides. They successfully supply 170 vegetable boxes a week to the local community – as well as providing a farm shop, on-farm bakery and vegetables for local shops and restaurants.
Fferm Glancynin, Carmarthenshire
Fferm Glancynin is a 160-acre organic dairy farm and home to eighty-five cows, who produce around 1,000 litres of milk a day. This is made into a range of dairy products on farm including kefir – marketed locally under Sanclêr Organic. Milk is also delivered to Caws Cenarth to be made into their award-winning cheeses.
The New Agriculture Act for Wales – What We Need To See
From regenerative farming to community cooperatives, these stories are a glimpse of ‘the land of our future’ we need to see here in Wales. To make this happen, WWF Cymru wants the Welsh Government to:
- Power Wales’ journey towards Net Zero by supporting farming to reduce harmful emissions.
- Restore native wildlife, by reducing the impact of farming on nature.
- Make Wales globally responsible by eliminating the use of imported products (such as animal feed) which is linked to deforestation and habitat loss around the world (find out more here).
- Support farmers to explore additional agricultural sectors (such as horticulture).
- Create and promote opportunities for new forms of community ownership & participation in production and land use.
Overall, we need to secure high-quality affordable, sustainable food, tackle climate change and restore nature – for a future where people and nature thrive.
You can join WWF Cymru in calling for a strong and ambitious new Agriculture Act for Wales by signing your name here.
