Supporting new growers in Powys

28 July 2023

The future of farming in Powys and the chance to create sustainable food networks was on the agenda on the final day of the Royal Welsh Show.

The event, hosted by the county council at its Tŵr Brycheiniog building, was used to discuss:

• The benefits of growing more fruit and vegetables to serve local markets.
• Working across organisations to match food supply and demand.
• Using the council's farm estate to trial vegetable growing schemes and nature-friendly farming methods.
• The barriers to new entrants to farming and market gardening.
• Simplifying the planning process for new market gardening enterprises.

The event was chaired by Cllr Jake Berriman, Powys County Council's Cabinet Member for a Connected Powys, who said: "As part of our commitment to build a stronger, fairer and greener Powys we would like to see more of the food we eat grown here in our own county.

"We believe that by supporting the creation of new horticultural enterprises and making more of our 'best and most versatile' land available to fresh fruit and vegetable production we have the potential to create jobs, boost farm incomes, strengthen rural community resilience, lower our county's carbon footprint and create more nature friendly spaces. It's also likely to be good for our health too, as many of us are eating far too much ultra-processed food.

"The partnership work we are engaged in is designed to test proof of concept and contribute to the wider debate on more sustainable farming futures."

The speakers were Richard Edwards of Cultivate, Gary Mitchell of Social Farms and Gardens, Tony Davies of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, Duncan Fisher of Our Food 1200 and Holly Tomlinson of the Land Workers' Alliance.