CLA Cymru evidence to the Senedd on Soil Health and Farm Support
As Welsh policy-makers examine how best to safeguard one of our most vital natural assets - soil - CLA Cymru will present evidence calling for a scheme that is fair, well-funded, and fit for the future of rural Wales
The Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee has been set up by the Senedd to look at policy and legislation, and to hold the Welsh Government to account in specific areas. These areas include business, economic development, skills, international trade, agriculture, fisheries and food.
The Committee recognises the importance of healthy soils in agricultural systems for food/fibre production, water quality, flood prevention, biodiversity, and carbon storage.
It is carrying out a short inquiry to gather evidence on:
- the role and state of soils in agricultural systems;
- monitoring of soil health;
- classification of soils for land use;
- the policy and legislative mechanisms to protect soils and productive land (including the Sustainable Farming Scheme, National Minimum Standards and planning policy (amongst others)); and
- the potential for legal frameworks and targets for soils.
CLA Cymru Oral Evidence
This week, CLA Cymru provided oral evidence to the Committee. Fraser McAuley, Senior Policy Adviser, represented the organisation, sharing our members' perspectives on how soil policy and mechanisms should support sustainable land management across rural Wales.
CLA Cymru welcomes the Committee's focus on soil health. Our evidence focused on how the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) should support any policy in the long term. This includes:
- Sustainably Designed: Practical and workable for Wales’ diverse land managers, enabling them to protect and enhance soil health without being burdened by overly complex requirements.
- Adequately Funded: Soil stewardship demands long-term investment. Without sufficient and consistent funding, key outcomes in productivity, climate resilience and environmental recovery will be at risk.
- Tailored to Wales: Our rural economy is built on a mosaic of landscapes, from coastal lowlands to upland farms. The SFS must recognise and respond to this diversity.
- Grounded in Science: We need reliable and ongoing monitoring of soil health, underpinned by scientific data, to guide decision-making and measure success.
Fraser McAuley commented:
"Soil is the foundation of sustainable agriculture. The Sustainable Farming Scheme must deliver the tools, flexibility and funding that farmers need to protect this precious resource. If we get it right, we can enhance food security, support biodiversity and help tackle climate change, all while sustaining the rural economy."
As the leading voice for rural landowners and businesses in Wales, CLA Cymru champions policies that promote both environmental sustainability and economic opportunity. Healthy soils are a fundamental part of that mission.
We are committed to working constructively with the Committee and Welsh Government to ensure that future soil policy enhances farming viability, improves climate resilience, and safeguards natural resources for the long term.
For further information on the Committee's inquiry, visit this Link to Senedd Committee
