Written question WQ99430
- Asked by
- Laura Anne JonesReform
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 12 days
Question
Will the Cabinet Minister ensure that the Sustainable Agriculture Loan Scheme supports food production and farm productivity, rather than focusing primarily on decarbonisation and environmental targets?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability (Llyr Gruffydd)
The Sustainable Agriculture Loan Scheme (SALS) is a one-year pilot providing affordable, long-term finance to eligible Welsh farm businesses to support sustainable and resilient food production. The scheme is open to all eligible businesses, including tenant farmers and small family farms, subject to meeting the published criteria and the Development Bank of Wales’ standard due diligence requirements.
The scheme formally launched on 1 July, with up to £5 million available in 2026-27. As this is a one-year pilot, the number of businesses supported will depend on the level and scale of applications received and the loans approved following the Development Bank of Wales’ due diligence process. The pilot will provide evidence to inform any future development of the scheme.