Highlights, ambition and challenges for rural Wales

With spring in the air and the daffodils flowering for St David’s Day, the sun certainly shone at the Celtic Manor Resort for the inaugural CLA Cymru Rural Business Conference. Bringing together around 200 farmers, rural business owners, policymakers and industry leaders, the conference created a valuable forum for discussing the opportunities and challenges facing the rural economy, in a Senedd election year.

Throughout the day, discussions spanned farming, food supply chains, tourism, politics and the future of rural communities. A consistent theme emerged: rural Wales has the innovation and ambition to lead, but requires supportive policy, clearer regulation and greater engagement from decision-makers.

Opening the conference, CLA Cymru Chair Tom Homfray reflected on the economic pressures facing farm businesses and the growing need for diversification.

Drawing on the experience of his own family farm, which has expanded beyond cattle farming into hospitality, renewables and recycling, he highlighted how many rural businesses are evolving to remain viable.

“Farming alone is no longer enough to sustain many family businesses. Diversification isn’t an option – it’s a lifeline,” he said.

However, Homfray noted that planning constraints and policy uncertainty can make diversification difficult, calling for a policy landscape that enables rural enterprise rather than holding it back.

The political context for rural Wales was explored by Dr Jac Larner of Cardiff University, who presented an analysis of the country’s shifting electoral landscape. He pointed to declining dominance of traditional parties, increasing political fragmentation and the growing influence of national identity in shaping voting patterns.

With Wales preparing for elections under a new Senedd electoral system, Larner emphasised the importance of rural engagement in political debate.

Long-term policymaking was addressed by Helen Nelson from the Office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, who outlined priorities including the development of a national food plan.

Tourism, a key contributor to the rural economy, was another major focus. Ian Williams of Visit Wales reported that international tourism has returned to pre-pandemic levels, with growing interest in screen tourism, cycling and sustainable travel.

However, panellists also highlighted challenges facing the sector, including council tax premiums, non-domestic rates, potential tourism levies and planning barriers that can limit investment.

Discussions also turned to the future of Welsh food and farming. Industry leaders highlighted opportunities through innovation, regenerative agriculture and improved public procurement, while raising concerns about market volatility, regulatory burdens and uncertainty surrounding the Sustainable Farming Scheme.

A cross-party political panel concluded the conference by debating key rural priorities ahead of the next Senedd election, including planning reform, support for diversification, rural healthcare, rural crime and tackling bovine tuberculosis.

Closing the event, CLA Deputy President Joe Evans said rural businesses remain central to Wales’s economic and environmental future.

With extremely positive feedback, the inaugural conference proved a major success, with many already calling for the event to return next year. Watch this space…