The Welsh Food Industry

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 1:53 pm on 9 October 2019.

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Photo of Jenny Rathbone Jenny Rathbone Labour 1:53, 9 October 2019

Well, it will be interesting to see the responses. I think last week we learnt that the state of nature report that was published last week is highlighting a terrifying loss of insects, including 60 per cent of Welsh butterflies and seven species of Welsh bees. Now, the overuse of pesticides, rather than allowing nature to thrive alongside man's and woman's use of the land, is clearly a cause for concern. So, two questions: what plans does the Welsh Government have to reduce the use of pesticides that put at risk the pollination of fruit, vegetables and flowers? And, in the context of the threat of a 'no deal' Brexit, which really raises serious issues about our food security, how does the Government plan to use public procurement to buy more Welsh produce, which would, as a by-product, obviously reduce food miles?