Wales farming evolution and post-Brexit implications. How can future policy sustain farming multi-functionality?

Lenormand, Théo

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Wales farming evolution and post-Brexit implications. How can future policy sustain farming multi-functionality?

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Lenormand, Théo (2024) Wales farming evolution and post-Brexit implications. How can future policy sustain farming multi-functionality? PhD thesis, University of Gloucestershire. doi:10.46289/MXKC7610

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Official URL: http://eprints.glos.ac.uk/16612

Abstract

Since 2018, Welsh farms have experienced significant policy shifts towards sustainability through the development of the Sustainable Farming Scheme, amidst broader global changes and local challenges like Brexit. Farming and food production have historically dominated the Welsh countryside, but evolving societal needs have broadened and complicated its role. This research identified a gap in understanding how the sector would respond to Brexit-related changes, particularly linked to the impact of the future Welsh agricultural policy. The concept of multifunctionality was used to conceptualise the diverse roles and functions of agriculture and its impact on rural areas. The three research questions reflected the likely challenges faced by Welsh farming; what are likely to be the most significant challenges for Welsh farming and its sustainability? How will the future SFS scheme in Wales interact with the drivers of change at play, and impact farms’ multifunctionality and are there any policy adaptations that would be needed? A review of Welsh government policies confirmed the relevance of this concept and, in partnership with the Welsh Government, highlighted the need for ex-ante evaluation. A review of available research methods provided criteria that led to the selection of a systemic concept and research method to answer the research questions. The comparative agriculture method provided a mixed method, integrated systemic approach to understand farming processes across scales and their contributions to multifunctionality. The agrarian diagnosis, the landscape-scale case-study tool to study the farming system in a given area, was implemented in 4 representative areas to explore the interplay between bio-climatic factors and socio-economic environments and diagnose past and emerging challenges such as economic pressures, market fluctuations, evolving land use patterns, and constraints within production systems. To frame socio-cultural aspects identified in this diagnosis, the concept of Social-Ecological Production Landscapes was retained. The research highlighted tensions between economic viability and sustainability, as well as the delicate balance required to maintain cultural and environmental integrity. Modelling potential future scenarios revealed the potential for government support post-Brexit to better sustain these systems. Combined with an analysis of the literature on the scheme it helped highlight that there was a need for a iv comprehensive approach to policy considering all the factors shaping Welsh agriculture. This includes acknowledging historical legacies, evolving socio-economic contexts and policies, and emerging market demands. Methodologically, this study highlighted the interest of using a holistic method such as the comparative agriculture but it also meant that it suggested ideas to further improve the rigour of behavioural analysis within the agrarian diagnosis. This is thought to be an area which will require further work for this method to play a bigger role in the multifunctionality debate particularly on behavioural factors. There is a need for further work to pilot the future Welsh policy and further develop it, also adapting data collection tools in agriculture.

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Thesis (PhD)

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