The Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) has launched its manifesto ahead of the 2022 Welsh local government elections which will take place next week, on Thursday, May 5.

The manifesto sets out the union's key asks and calls on incoming Councillors and Local Authorities in regards to local procurement; county council farm holdings; EU replacement funds; local housing; sustainable tourism; carbon offsetting and afforestation; digital connectivity; and trading standards.

It concludes with ten asks of Local Authorities and Councillors:

Speaking after the launch, FUW president Glyn Roberts said:

“As all corners of society recover from recent and ongoing global events, Local Authorities will have a big part to play in ensuring that all policies work for Wales’ local communities, economies, society and cultures - although the increasing burden on Local Authorities alongside cuts to annual budget allocations must not be underestimated.

"As such, there is progress to be made in terms of bolstering and in many cases reconnecting the sustainable and environmentally friendly food produced in Wales with our local communities and public sectors in order to maintain and increase our food security, reduce our reliance on imported products and work towards reaching net zero.

“We are committed to continuing to work with County Councillors and representatives of each of the twenty-two Local Authorities in Wales to ensure that the role of agriculture, food production and family farms in our communities is reflected at every level of decision making," Roberts added.