We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.CLA to focus on Glastir at Plaid Cymru conference
CLA WALES is to concentrate on the linkage between Glastir and CAP reform when the rural economy experts share a platform with RSPB Cymru at a Plaid Cymru Annual Conference fringe meeting in Aberystwyth tomorrow (Friday, September 10).
As part of what will be the opening round of this autumn’s party political conference season, CLA Wales policy adviser, Sue Evans, will address the theme of Sustainable Land Management.
The debate will be conducted bilingually, with translation facilities, and chaired by Welsh Assembly Rural Affairs Minister and Ceredigion AM, Elin Jones.
“It is appropriate amid all the criticism of the Assembly’s new but controversial Glastir land management scheme to look at the positive aspects,” says Ms Evans.
“It is the only means of public support that will be available to Welsh farmers and landowners post 2013 and important to view it in the right perspective.
“We have worked with the Welsh Assembly Government over the past two years and more developing this scheme.
“It is not perfect, but it reflects current European thinking on the public goods agenda and the move towards what we call food and environmental security.
“We and RSPB Cymru are strong supporters of Glastir, CAP reform, and the need to move towards a support system that rewards farmers for the provision of environmental goods and services, including management for carbon storage/sequestration, water, biodiversity and food produced within environmentally sustainable limits.”
The CLA and the European Landowners Organisation had put a huge amount of work into shaping European Commission thinking on the aspect of public goods, she added.
“There is universal acknowledgement that the role of agriculture is first and foremost the production of wholesome, nutritious food at affordable prices.
“European agriculture, however, offers services and functions well beyond this, and most of these services, especially the environmental ones which the public value most, are not paid for at all by markets.”
