A Powys Member of the Senedd along with the Opposition's shadow rural affairs minister Sam Kurtz have made a call for a re-think in recent farming regulation.

Russell George MS for Montgomeryshire called for the Welsh Government to review its all-Wales nitrate vulnerable zone (NVZs) legislation after visiting Ystym Colwyn in Meifod and seeing their anaerobic digestion project in operation.

The project uses a process through which bacteria breaks down organic matter, such as manure, creating natural gases which can then be harnessed to power a generator.

“It was a pleasure to visit Ystym Colwyn Farm and see the great work the team is doing, not only in providing food for the nation and showcasing excellent Welsh produce abroad but in terms of energy creation too,” said Mr George.

“We know food and energy security have been high on the agenda in the year since Russia invaded Ukraine, jeopardising supply chains and pushing up the cost of energy, so we need to see more schemes like anaerobic digestion coming forward.”

The new legislation has been brought in by the Welsh Government to reduce the harmful effects of pollution caused by elevated levels of Nitrates caused by certain types of fertilizer and animal waste – which has cited as the cause of much river pollution especially on the River Wye.

However, Mr George said during the visit he heard concerns about how the new rules would stifle the type of energy creation being pioneered at the farm “despite it being renewable, environmentally friendly, and ambitious for energy security in future”.

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Mr George added: “We need the Welsh Government to support this through a positive and encouraging regulatory environment which their news is putting at risk. This is all the more important given its renewable and environmentally friendly nature.

“That does mean binning the unpopular, sledgehammer-to-crack-a-nut NVZ regulations that they are soon to impose across Wales, understanding that a one-size-fits-all approach will be detrimental to our long-term agricultural, environmental, and energy goals.”

Mr George made the visit along with Shadow Rural Affairs Minister Samuel Kurtz MS and Councillor Jonathan Wilkinson, met with Ed Vaughan, Ed Gittins, and James Gittins

“I am grateful to Ed and James for welcoming me to their farm and demonstrating their innovative way of creating energy from animal waste,” said Mr Kurtz MS.  

“It is important that the Welsh Government appreciate that there is no such thing as a typical Welsh farm and it is essential that flexibility is built into any policies and regulations, such as NVZs, that they choose to implement.”