CLIMATE change and the environment will take centre stage as part of a special NFU Cymru virtual seminar held ahead of the COP26 summit.

NFU Cymru’s ‘COP Cefn Gwlad – Farming’s Net Zero Journey’ seminar will be held at 1.30pm on Wednesday, October 13, and will showcase the actions being taken on Welsh farms to meet the union’s net zero 2040 ambition. The session will also highlight NFU Cymru’s recently launched #GrowingTogether tree planting strategy and the role of Welsh farmers in delivering nature-based solutions.

The hour-long event will be chaired by NFU Cymru president John Davies, who was the inaugural chair of the NFU’s Net Zero Steering Group, and will feature contributions from Nigel Pugh of Coed Cadw – The Woodland Trust in Wales, Pembrokeshire arable farmer Jason Llewellin, Glamorgan dairy farmer Abi Reader, as well as beef and sheep farmer Edward Griffith from Gwynedd.

The seminar will form part of Countryside COP – a week-long network of events hosted by farming and countryside organisations from October 11-15 to showcase the opportunities that are available and the contribution already being made by agriculture to reach net zero.

NFU Cymru resident Mr Davies said: “Given our sector’s unique ability to act as a carbon sink – capturing carbon dioxide from the air and turning it into a variety of food, fibres and fuels – we firmly believe that farming will have an integral role to play as part of the climate change solution.

“Ahead of the COP26 summit, NFU Cymru’s COP Cefn Gwlad is an ideal opportunity for our industry to take the lead and demonstrate the excellent work that is already taking place on farms across Wales, as well as our ambition to further improve productive efficiency, increase carbon storage and harnessing renewable energy to help us meet our net zero 2040 goal.

“The event promises to be an inspiring session and I urge farmers, stakeholders and all those with an interest in climate change and our environment to log in and join us.”

NFU Cymru members can register for the ‘COP Cefn Gwlad – Farming’s Net Zero’ seminar on the NFU Cymru website. Non-members can register by calling 01982 554200 or emailing nfu.cymru@nfu.org.uk.