RESPONDING to news that up to 70 jobs may be lost at the Institute for Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Brynle Williams AM, Shadow Minister for Agriculture, today questioned the Minister for Rural Affairs over the future of the institution.  Mr Williams, Regional Assembly Member for North Wales, said: 

“Agriculture faces massive challenges in the coming decades, the doubling of food demand by 2030, the global population hitting 9 billion by 2050, as well as the impact of a climate change.

“The work being carried out at Ibers could be the most important contribution Wales makes to the world in the decades ahead. 

Mr Williams added: 

“This world leading institution needs reassurances that Welsh Ministers will be sparing no effort to safeguard their essential research.”