Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Firstly, I'd like to thank all speakers for participating in this afternoon's debate and bringing forward meaningful and insightful contributions. I'd also like to thank the Minister for her response and her positive discussions around the need for the committee to look at this, and I look forward to working with her on agricultural matters, and on rural affairs more generally, to help deliver a fairer, sustainable and more prosperous future for Welsh farmers.

Whilst I welcome that the Government has refrained from a delete-all approach to their amendment, it is disappointing that, when, as this motion has such cross-party support, they have still felt the need to table an amendment. Despite this, we will be abstaining on their amendment during voting time.

As this is a new Senedd term with a number of new faces here in the Chamber and on Zoom, it is only right that we look at these NVZ regulations once again, as the detrimental effect that this policy will have on the Welsh agricultural industry will impact us all, not just Members representing rural areas. Today's debate has highlighted the strength of feeling on this topic, not that the industry and those speaking against the NVZs are opposed to improving environmental standards, but quite the opposite. We believe that there is a better, more meaningful and constructive way forward that brings about the necessary improvements, but does so in a manner that avoids penalising those who are already doing the right thing. We also believe that there is a way forward that doesn't jeopardise the future of farms across Wales. I make reference to the story from Russell George regarding the farmer in his area: it's a story that will resonate with all of us who have spoken to farmers in our areas who understand the plight that this will cause, the difficulties that an NVZ policy will put on them financially and mentally. And for Joyce Watson to talk about hypocrisy, I would challenge her that hypocrisy is the Government to announce funding for a fantastic agricultural charity dealing with mental health, but yet, to bring forward legislation such as this, that their own report understands, provides such—[Interruption.]—provides such a negative effect on the mental health of young farmers across Wales.

It's also pleasing to hear Cefin Campbell mention and speak so positively on this. Cefin and I will know each other through hustings during the election period, and this was the only topic that you will be surprised to know that Cefin and I agreed on, but it's great to hear that we have got this cross-party support on this, and that shows just how important it is that we bring together a consensus on a policy that will affect all of Wales.

And it would be very easy to stand here and criticise the policy and the decision to implement it without offering an alternative solution. And I would disagree with the Minister's previous comments that a voluntary farmer-led solution has not been forthcoming or could not be successful. First Milk, who operate a creamery in Pembrokeshire, have a number of dairy farms in my constituency and a number of dairy farmers in my constituency supply them with milk. They have seen successes with their nutrient offsetting project, which is already delivering environmental benefits in west Wales. This offsetting project forms the basis of a potential solution, which has already been talked about here this afternoon: the blue flag farming scheme, which I know that the Minister is aware of. This voluntary, farmer-led scheme, if rolled out and externally audited, would deliver the environmental benefits that the current NVZ policy would fail to do, and it would also deliver on the Welsh Government's own commitment to work in partnership with stakeholders. This, instead of imposing a heavy-handed regulatory solution, would help bring the farming community along and re-establish trust. And also, as Cefin Campbell rightfully mentioned, the technology is there, it's developing, where we can have this voluntary approach that brings about the necessary changes and improves those environmental standards. 

The difficulties of this past year has led us all to hear the phrase 'follow the science' far more than we have previously. And while this motto should rightly be applied to decisions relating to the pandemic, the same sentiment must also be applied to policy decisions such as this. And there is clear scientific evidence available across the water in the Republic of Ireland. In 2003, a whole-territory NVZ was established, and in 2019, key findings from the Irish Environmental Protection Agency showed that nearly half of river sites have unsatisfactory nitrate concentrations; 44 per cent of sites were showing an increase in nitrate trend for the period 2013 to 2019. Loads of total nitrogen and total phosphorus to the marine environment from Irish rivers have increased by 24 per cent, and 31 per cent, respectively, since 2012-14. And finally, almost half—49 per cent—of all groundwater sites had increasing nitrate concentrations for the period of 2013 and 2019. If we are to truly follow the science, we must take into consideration the evidence of other countries who have implemented NVZs, and the damming conclusions that they have drawn. 

Before I bring this debate to an end, I would like to share with Members a quote from a study on the effectiveness of NVZs conducted by Professors Worrall, Spencer and Burt of Durham University, who said, and I quote:

'The lack of objective success for NVZ designation suggests that nitrate pollution control strategies based on input management need to be rethought.'

Let's not wait until it's too late to rethink this strategy. 

In closing, I urge Members to vote with the motion so that these NVZ regulations are brought before a committee to allow further scrutiny and consideration of their adverse impact on Welsh agriculture. Diolch.