NFU Cymru President Aled Jones said: “Whether it’s world-renowned PGI Welsh Lamb and Beef, versatile PGI Pembrokeshire Early Potatoes, poultry meat or eggs, delicious, healthy Welsh milk, our tasty Welsh cheeses, cereal crops or simply the humble leek – Wales is synonymous with high quality, locally produced food. It is something the whole country can be proud of.

“Over the last year the swell of public support for Welsh food and Welsh farmers has been astounding. Our consumer polling last winter highlighted that 82% of the Welsh public support government providing funding to farmers to produce food, while the backing of the people of Wales has been key in the industry protests we saw earlier this year. I also know that NFU Cymru members and staff were taken aback with the positive response to the union’s display of 5,500 wellies on the steps of the Senedd in March. All of this points to the fact that the people of Wales hold Welsh food in high regard and they want to see farmers supported to continue producing that food.

“Our Secure the Future of Welsh Food/Diogelu Dyfodol Bwyd Cymru campaign seeks to bring the industry together and show the high level of backing for the food produced in Wales by the nation’s farmers. The sense of unity amongst Welsh farmers has always been its biggest strength, it’s time to use that collective power to work together to make this campaign a success with the public. Please sign the petition today and then do everything you can to get others to do the same.”

NFU Cymru Deputy President Abi Reader said: “The future of farm policy in Wales has been the subject of much debate over many months. It is clearer than ever before that concerns over the impact of those policies on farmers’ ability to produce food is a view shared not just by the industry, but by the public, too. As farmers, it’s in our collective interests to make sure the voice of the public is heard when it comes to our efforts to Secure the Future of Welsh Food.

“At a time when food production around the world is under pressure due to the impacts of climate change and global conflict, we simply cannot afford to hinder the production of safe, high quality food made in a climate that is perfectly suited to producing milk, meat, potatoes, crops and vegetables. The natural asset base of high rainfall and plentiful grass growth we have here in Wales means our farmers can stake the claim that they’re producing some of the most climate-friendly food in the world. We are well placed to deliver on our ambitions but we need to ensure Welsh policy is aligned with that food-first vision.

“We need as many people as possible to sign the petition on the NFU Cymru website, in either Welsh or English, to mobilise this support for Welsh food and ensure it’s in the minds of policy makers when they’re finalising future schemes. We want to make it crystal clear that the Welsh public wants these schemes to deliver for the production of safe, sustainable, high quality food.”