Ionwen has set her sights on food industry

Apr 22 2008 by Meyrick Brown, Western Mail

IONWEN LEWIS is a remarkable lady. Now halfway through her third term of office as president of the Women’s Food and Farming Union she has shared speaking platforms with virtually all the leading British politicians and agricultural leaders in Europe over the past 30 months.

Next Monday Ionwen shares the stage with one of the most influential of them all when Mariann Fischer Boel, the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, is keynote speaker at the WFU conference at the Heronston Hotel, Bridgend.

Wales Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones, HSBC chief economist Dennis Turner, Commercial Farmers’ Group chairman Henry Fell and Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin King are also among the other speakers in a conference that has the theme “Agriculture – are we facing up to our responsibilities.”

Ionwen is passionate about farming and rural life and has some trenchant views on the issue.

The WFU, founded in 1979 in response to the effects on British orchards and apple varieties of a flood of subsidised Golden Delicious from France, is the perfect medium for her enthusiasm – a voluntary organisation committed to promoting understanding of farming and confidence in quality British farm produce.

“My heart is in farming. I think that the attractiveness of the countryside and the well-being of its communities are dependent on a viable farming industry,” says Ionwen.

“So many people don’t understand the countryside and farming. I want to do all that I can to improve the industry’s lot and further the wholesome image of home-produced food.”

Ionwen says education is an important aspect of the WFU’s work.

“Our mission is to get our message to as many consumers as we can, because without them we’re going nowhere,” she said.

“I think people are beginning to realise that food is not going to be cheap any more, and maybe that will make them think more about it and shop more carefully.

“At the moment 30% of food that’s bought by consumers is wasted, and it’s because of the way that supermarkets operate.

“Respect for food has disappeared because of the tremendous choice we all have. We must learn to respect the value of food as a precious commodity that it takes a lot to grow properly.”

Since taking up the presidency of the WFU in October 2005 Ionwen has actively tried to strengthen the organisation’s links – and forge new ones – with other organisations and bodies within the industry.

The WFU believes that both the health and economy of the countryside will benefit by representing the best interests of consumers and producers.

Ionwen sees herself in something of a unique position having both a practical farmer’s view and that of a consumer.

She grew up at Crugybar, Carmarthenshire, and had Gwynfor Evans as a Sunday School teacher. She obtained her National Diploma in Agriculture at Gelli Aur, and developed her practical knowledge of farming when her family ran a livestock holding at Rhoscrowther in South Pembrokeshire.

Ionwen now has her own farm near Aberaeron with a productive herd of pedigree Welsh Black cattle and a breeding flock of pedigree Texels, producing stock for breeding as well as meat.

She also runs a very successful farmhouse B&B, lets out formerly redundant farm buildings as 10 business units, workshops and offices and welcomes anglers on three fishing lakes that she has established on the farm.

In addition to the WFU presidency, she has chaired the Ceredigion county branch of the Farmers Union of Wales and is a director and former chairwoman of the Farm Stay UK network.

She is also the only person who currently holds two consultative roles with the Welsh Assembly Government.

Farming 2020 is a cross-section group that covers farming, environmental, commercial and food processing sectors and the Upland Forum advises on farming issues relating to the countryside in the more marginal areas.

Delegates to next week’s WFU annual conference gather on Sunday evening for a pre-conference gala dinner and reception with guest speaker Robin Page, the farmer and journalist who chairs the Countryside Restoration Trust.

The conference itself on Monday is followed on Tuesday by a coach visit by delegates to the National Assembly.