Welsh Agriculture Act: What Are The Key Provisions?

• Published date: 26 September 2023
• Law Firm: Michelmores
• Author: Ms Charlotte Razay

The 17th of August 2023 was a historic day for Wales with its first agriculture act becoming law; the Agriculture (Wales) Bill received Royal Assent and is now known as the Agriculture (Wales) Act 2023 ("the AWA 2023").

We have long been waiting to discover how Wales would implement its own post-Brexit agricultural support scheme and update its landlord and tenant regime as the framework is contained in the Agriculture Act 2020 which was introduced in November 2020.

The AWA 2023 comprises six parts which provide the legislative framework for its future agricultural policy.

Whilst the AWA 2023 is similar to the Agriculture Act 2020, one of the most significant differences is in respect of its dispute resolution provision for agricultural tenants, which we will consider in more detail below.

Some of the key provisions of the AWA 2023 are summarised as follows:

1. Sustainable Land Management

Wales's agricultural policy is based on Sustainable Land Management ("SLM"). It has four overarching objectives, which are set out in section 1 AWA 2023. They are to:

• produce food and other goods in a sustainable manner;
• mitigate and adapt to climate change;
• maintain and enhance the resilience of ecosystems and the benefits they provide; and
• conserve and enhance the countryside and cultural...