As always, I'm very grateful to have the opportunity to contribute in this afternoon's debate. We will be voting in favour of the general principles of this Bill.

As has already been mentioned, this is a landmark piece of legislation for Wales's agricultural community. For the first time ever, Wales is set to benefit from having its first Welsh-born, Welsh-bred agricultural legislation, tailored to the uniqueness of the industry in Wales and its importance to our culture and language. As a Welsh parliamentarian in this Senedd Cymru, this is certainly a principle that I'm incredibly proud of, and now, as Minister for rural affairs, you have more powers than you previously held.

With Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine shining an important spotlight on the significance of food sovereignty, and the pressures being seen by both food consumers and producers, this Bill's passage through this place comes at an important time both domestically and globally. And, to steal a phrase from Bon Jovi, Llywydd, this agriculture Bill is halfway there, so, as we progress to Stage 2, let's get this Bill all the way there.

The need to focus on productivity is important. With sustainable land management the key objective, and the leading role the agricultural community plays in tackling climate change, we must continue to see the production of high-quality Welsh produce and the sustainable use of our land as two sides of the same coin. Through technology and improved farming practices, it's easily possible to be able to get more from less without exploiting the resources available to us. It's vital then that productivity is reflected in this legislation.

So, it's important that we get this legislation right. I welcome the fact that the Government hasn't rushed this agricultural policy; they've taken their time through consultation and discussions with the farming community to get the Bill to where it is today—a long way from where the 'Brexit and our land' consultation had us in 2018. But, with that, our agricultural community needs security. Our farmers need that important ability to be able to plan for the future. And, whilst this draft legislation does that to some degree, I still think it can go further. That ability to plan ahead is not just specific to farm businesses, but in the wider context of the sustainable land management objectives. Economic, social, cultural, environmental—they all need this ability. But, in addition to this, we ought to ensure that all four objectives are displayed and interpreted on one equal footing, removing the possibility of ambiguity or any prioritisation. By ensuring that this is done, we can make certain that all four objectives are given equal and intertwined priority in their implementation, so that no focus can be shifted from one to another.

One such point of contention surrounds the restriction of certain predatory controls. It remains questionable whether the Bill allows the Welsh Government to maintain and enhance the resilience of ecosystems effectively, whilst at the same time removing predatory control—a possibility that there is a contradiction between two parts of the Bill. And so, this is a matter of clarity that I look forward to seeking during Stage 2 of the Bill's progression.

This Bill is ambitious, but with such ambition, we must ensure that there are sufficient checks and balances in place. By obligating the Welsh Government to report back on their key ambitions, we can ensure that Ministers are kept on track and that all objectives within this legislation are being successfully achieved because we cannot afford either of the four objectives to fall below the wayside.

Llywydd, this is an incredibly exciting time for Wales's agricultural community. Yes, there are challenges before us, but I am proud of the work that our farmers have done and continue to do in feeding a nation and protecting our environment. I hope that the final Agriculture (Wales) Bill will echo that pride in our farmers, welcoming the next generation of farmers onto the land. Diolch yn fawr.