The new Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs has heard first-hand how Farming Connect is helping to promote best practice and innovation in agriculture and forestry.
Lesley Griffiths met members of the Farming Connect Demonstration Network at the Royal Welsh Show, where she heard about the projects and research being undertaken across the three-tier network of demonstration, innovation and focus sites.
Professor Wynne Jones, chairman of the Farming Connect Strategic Advisory Board emphasised the important role the demonstration network plays in sharing ideas that can help increase efficiency and profitability in farming and forestry.
“The network enables research and development to be translated to grass roots level so things then happen from an economic and business perspective that farmers can relate to,” said Professor Jones. “The knowledge exchange that happens at that level is very important and a good way to relay research to the wider farming and forestry industries.”
The Cabinet Secretary met some of the farmers from the 12 demonstration sites of cross-sector farms located throughout Wales that are hosting projects and trials implementing and demonstrating innovation and new technologies to the industry. She also heard about some of the work being carried out at the eight innovation sites based at Welsh agri-education and research establishments that are at the forefront of research and development within agriculture and forestry. The focus sites will stage one-off projects implementing technology and ideas in a practical, on-farm scenario.
Dewi Hughes, Farming Connect Technical Development Manager said: “We work with some extremely progressive and innovative farmers, and through the Demonstration site network we will be able to trial and demonstrate new techniques and technologies that will be of benefit to the industry. Working with educational bodies will also help to convey the latest innovations and research to a wider audience and allow the development of further projects that can be implemented on farm.”
For further information on the Farming Connect demonstration network click here.