So we argue that these proposals—and I know they are advocated by some in the Senedd—are nowhere near enough. They lack the urgency needed to meet the challenges of the climate and nature emergencies, and they lack the ambition we need for our food producers to strengthen their outstanding international reputation in challenging and uncertain trading environments. So that's why, unlike some, we do propose not a continuation of the basic payment scheme, but a radical break, as referred to by Huw Irranca-Davies, so that all public moneys invested in the sector support them to deliver more for the natural environment and make their farm businesses more productive and resilient.

We do see examples of innovation everywhere, and like Helen Mary Jones, I saw this year for the first time a milk vending machine out in west Wales. I think it was a different one to the one that she referred to, but it is great to see that sort of innovation, particularly from our young farmers right across Wales. It was really humbling to see the efforts of food businesses during the pandemic, not only to find imaginative ways to continue to trade in COVID-secure ways, but also to contribute directly to the effort to fight the virus, providing food for our key workers and even repurposing their operations to contribute other vital supplies.

Welsh Government has invested more than £32 million to support food businesses since March. We launched the Caru Cymru Caru Blas campaign, which involved hundreds of businesses in celebrating the sector's extraordinary progress in recent years, achieving a 38 per cent increase in turnover between 2014 and 2020. One of the ways we have supported the sector's growth is through the establishment of the food cluster network, the largest network of its kind in the UK, which connects businesses along every part of the value chain. We've created sustainable brand values initiatives, again strengthening the sector's commitment to environmental issues and to employee well-being and fair work. There are many food businesses in Wales who exemplify the kind of food system we need in Wales: local supply chains, increasingly skilled and diverse workforces, contributing so much more to our society than the high-quality food for which Wales is increasingly developing its international reputation.

As well as change in the food and farming sectors, we also want to draw more people into growing and sharing food in their local community, and Jenny Rathbone referred to the support Welsh Government has given to horticulture. We do have the twin challenges of the EU transition period coming to an end and COVID-19, but we have continued to support people, because we have seen an increase during the pandemic in people taking an interest in nature on their doorstep. And we've supported over 100 community food-growing initiatives, large and small, to expand the provision of community food growing in every part of Wales.

Llyr Huws Gruffydd referred to food waste in his opening remarks, and last month I announced £13 million in additional investment through a further expansion of the circular economy fund, and that funding will support the development of town centre facilities, which is part of a wider drive towards greater reuse and repair. We'll continue to work to divert food from waste and encourage the development of local food and skill-sharing networks. These projects, of which there are already many examples in Wales, are making healthy food more accessible and affordable, promoting social cohesion, enabling collaborative action between local authorities and the voluntary sector, revitalising town centres, building on our world-leading recycling record and reducing the environmental impact of our food. So it's really important that we bring together the many different perspectives and components of the Welsh food system, and the measure of success should be how these then translate into real change on the ground.

The action the Welsh Government is taking is guided by the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and its way of working, and the Act and well-being goals are embedded within a consultation we had last year. And the vision and mission document addresses many of the issues that have been raised during this debate. Janet Finch-Saunders referred also to the food and drink Wales industry board, and they've been a key partner as we've delivered support to the food and drink sector.

So the food system this Welsh Government seeks to support is one in which our communities play more of a role in shaping it for themselves. Change is needed to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of Wales and to distribute the benefits of the rich natural environment in Wales in a way that's fairer now, today, as well as for our future generations. Diolch.