Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:31 pm on 8 May 2018.
I was very pleased to hear you say that the support for food production must not undermine our natural environment, and I think that's absolutely crucial. Given that the numbers of species across Europe are crashing, it's very concerning to all of us that the common agricultural policy has obviously not been successful in preventing the numbers of wildlife from being eliminated in lots of cases. So, I know it's something that, in this Chamber, we feel quite strongly about, and, clearly, we're going to need to ensure that farming takes place without actually causing environmental degradation. Indeed, we need to build up the numbers that have been lost.
I'd just like to ask, in the light of the new circumstances, what support there will be for horticulture, because most horticulture is produced on fewer than 8 hectares, which is therefore not eligible for CAP. Given that some of the Tory Taliban are wanting to get us out of the customs union, it's obviously going to make it more difficult for us to import fruit and vegetables if that were to occur. So, I'd be keen to understand a bit more about what we can do to grow the sort of vegetables that don't need to be produced on an industrial scale, like potatoes. Freshness, locality and seasonality are hugely important. A limp lettuce nobody's going to want to eat. I remember Gareth Wyn Jones struggling to source vegetables within 50 miles of the school in west Cardiff, where he was trying to develop a meal for children on that basis.
I know that the LEADER programme has produced a lot of really excellent horticultural schemes, which local businesses have been falling over themselves to buy local produce for their cafes, restaurants and pubs. We know that polytunnels can extend the growing season and the range of produce we can grow up in the Valleys. We need more fruit trees, please. Lots of fruit trees can be grown in the harshest of climates. Just think of the Bardsey apple and the damsons that were historically grown for their dye. So, I'd be very keen to hear a bit more about how you think we can produce that for the well-being of our nation, as well as enriching our local food cultures that were spoken about in the land management report.