A National Assembly committee is considering how to plan for Welsh agriculture and rural development after the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.
The Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee is asking people for their opinions and ideas on what could be the biggest shake-up of the sector since the UK joined the European common market more than 40 years ago.
Wales is a net-beneficiary of European Union funding through programmes such as the common agriculture and common fisheries policies (alongside other sources such as structural funding). Agriculture is worth around £1.5 billion to the Welsh economy and employs more than 58,000 people.
Wales voted convincingly for the UK to leave the EU in the June referendum with high turnouts and votes to leave in rural areas such as Powys, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.
Questions the committee will consider as part of its inquiry will include:
- What are the fundamental outcomes that we want to see from agricultural and rural development policies?
- What lessons can we learn from current and previous policies? What about policies elsewhere?
- Should Wales develop its own agricultural and rural development polices or should it be part of a broader UK-wide policy framework?
"For more than 40 years, Welsh agriculture, the landscapes and environment shaped by it, and the rural communities that depend on it have been supported and shaped by policies set at a European level, albeit with a degree of local adjustment," said Mark Reckless AM, Chair of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee.
"Following the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union, the future shape of policies and finance to support agriculture, land management in Wales and rural communities may be decided in Wales.
"We want to explore the principles that should underpin the new Welsh polices that will be needed to replace those currently set by the European Union.
"This can be seen as an opportunity to restructure agricultural and rural policies so that they are bespoke to the needs of Wales. In devising new policies, the outcomes to be delivered for the people of Wales must be clearly explained and understood."
Anyone wishing to submit evidence to the Committee can do so by taking part in the online discussion. Alternatively, if you would like to discuss a different way of contributing, you can contact the Clerk to the Committee by emailing SeneddCCERA@assembly.wales, or by calling 0300 200 6565.
The Committee also shares regular updates of its work on Twitter @SeneddCCERA.