The agriculture sector in Wales is continuously moving towards greater sustainability and the work I do with Farming Connect has shown me that, with the right kind of support and a clear focus on practical outcomes, sustainability leads to benefits for the business itself.
My role as Carbon Specialist Officer for Mentera involves working directly with farmers across Wales, carrying out on-farm carbon assessments and helping them identify realistic opportunities for change. What we’ve found is that sustainability doesn’t have to mean doing everything differently. Often it’s about building on existing practices and understanding where improvements can be made, both from an environmental and economic perspective.
This starts with knowledge. There is no one-size-fits-all model in Welsh agriculture. Each farm operates in its own way, with different systems, land, livestock, and challenges. But despite this variation, we consistently see that farms which improve their environmental performance are also becoming more efficient and resilient. Whether it’s through better energy use, improved livestock management, or the use of deep rooting leys, the link between sustainable practice and business benefit is clear.
The challenge is often in making that link tangible. Sustainability can be a broad and sometimes abstract term. What does it mean in practice for someone running a hill farm in north Wales, or a mixed farm in the south? This is where knowledge transfer comes in. Through Farming Connect, we’re working hard to break down complex ideas and translate them into practical steps that farmers can apply. Whether it’s through masterclasses, open days, discussion groups or one-to-one mentoring, the focus is on learning from each other.
A good example is the mentoring work done by farmers like Dai Evershed, who implemented LoRaWAN technology to tackle water scarcity on his farm. His experience not only improved his own business resilience but is now informing and inspiring other farmers looking to adopt similar solutions. That peer-to-peer learning is hugely powerful.
Wales has taken a clear position with the Well-being of Future Generations Act and net zero commitments. The connection between these national goals and the everyday decisions farmers are making is key. It’s about creating a culture where innovation is both encouraged and supported and where sharing ideas becomes the norm.
Collaboration will be central to this. We already see examples of Farming Connect Discussion Group Project bringing together farmers to tackle a common challenge that if addressed will further improve their sustainability. There is scope for far more of this kind of cross-sector thinking, especially as the agricultural industry adapts to new expectations and environmental pressures.
There are barriers, of course. Time, cost, and the technical complexity of some changes can be off-putting. But these are not insurmountable. With targeted support and a focus on what works in practice, sustainability can move from being a challenge to an opportunity. The work we are doing through Farming Connect shows that when farmers are equipped with knowledge, supported through change and given space to innovate, the results can be significant.
How effectively we work together to adapt and share what we learn is going to be crucial to further improving the sustainability and the success of the sector.
