6. Statement by the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd: BlasCymru/TasteWales — Promoting Welsh food and drink to the world

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:07 pm on 18 January 2022.

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Photo of James Evans James Evans Conservative 5:07, 18 January 2022

Minister, thank you for your statement. I agree with you and the previous speakers about the quality of the produce we have here in Wales, and we're all proud of the products that are produced in our constituencies. Minister, I do have three questions for you. Do you think that the BlasCymru conference has achieved what it set out to achieve, and have we seen any net benefits yet for the food and drink sector since the conference in terms of contracts and exports? Secondly, on sustainability, when do you think there'll be a time when we'll ban single-use plastics across the food and drink sectors, like other countries have done, to help us reduce the reliance we have on single-use plastics? I think that will help boost our environmental credentials. And finally, you mentioned this yourself about promoting food and about the industry levy bodies that we have, such as Hybu Cig Cymru. Do you think that there is more that they could do to promote our products outside of traditional markets, and that they are actually good value for the levy payers who are paying in to keep those bodies going? Diolch, Deputy Llywydd.