The Coalition Government's plans for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) would devastate the majority of farm businesses in the UK and completely undermine food security, Farmers' Union of Wales president Gareth Vaughan warned today.

Mr Vaughan was responding to a speech by Defra secretary of state Caroline Spelman made at the recent Oxford Farming Conference in which she proposed radical changes to the Common Agricultural Policy.

In a letter, he told her: "In the absence of significant moves to ensure fair returns from the market place, reform of the CAP in the way you have proposed would devastate the majority of farm businesses in Wales and throughout the UK, while completely undermining our food security.

"Such concerns are highlighted in a range of academic reports, most notably those published by the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI), many of which were commissioned by what is now your department.

"While I appreciate that you have sought to distinguish your policy from that of the previous administration, there appears to me to be relatively little difference between the broad thrusts of either policy, and the conclusions reached by FAPRI would therefore appear to remain valid."

Mr Vaughan also highlighted the possible impacts of Defra's proposals based upon academic research, including a decline in UK food production and rural employment, increased price volatility and dramatic consequences for the Welsh beef and sheep sectors.

The letter outlined nine broad points which, the FUW believes, should underpin the future policy.

They included maintaining support until mechanisms are in place which ensure fair returns for producers, supporting the CAP and its core objectives to ensure the availability of agricultural produce and a fair standard of living for the agricultural community, and recognition of the CAP as a mechanism by which the major environmental and food production challenges of our age can be addressed.

Mr Vaughan has also issued a stark warning regarding the impact of the proposals on the uplands and farming families. "I have grave concerns that, if current UK Government proposals were adopted, this would lead to a situation whereby the majority of the uplands were abandoned, while on more productive land those who are currently farmers would become low-paid employees on vast farms owned by the equivalent of multi-national companies.

"There should be a system in place which ensures farmers receive fair incomes from the marketplace but until that becomes a reality it would be negligent for us to adopt a policy which, numerous reports have warned, would devastate food production and our rural communities at a time when the experts are warning us of impending energy, water and food shortages," he added.

The Farmers' Union of Wales today welcomed the UK Government's latest vision for food production outlined at this week's Oxford Farming Conference but it also expressed strong opposition to the government's determination to abandon the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Food 2030, launched during the conference by UK environment, food and rural affairs secretary Hilary Benn, sets out the government's view of food production in 20 years time.

"The FUW welcomes the fact that the UK Government has recognised the importance of food production and agriculture, and agrees with many of the broad principles laid out in the document. However, we are fundamentally opposed to the abandonment of the very framework which was designed to address food production and security issues, namely the CAP," said the union's president Gareth Vaughan.

"The Food 2030 document continues to advocate Defra's 2005 Vision for the Agricultural Policy which, their own research shows, would devastate UK agriculture and rural communities, increase food miles, and undermine food security by increasing food importation.

"While many of the principles outlined in the Food 2030 document are commendable, none of them appear to be robust enough to mitigate the devastating impact of abandoning the CAP.

"In fact, the document actually criticises the CAP for resulting in 'higher prices for farmers', which makes any talk about wanting profitable farms seem hollow.

"The FUW is fundamentally opposed to abandoning the CAP framework, which was specifically designed to address many of the problems referred to in the Food 2030 document.

"Rather, we believe that the CAP needs to be looked at in the context of an excellent starting point for developing policies that will address food security, environment and climate change concerns."

The Farmers' Union of Wales is reminding people that "It’s time to Shake Up Your Wake Up" by getting involved with Farmhouse Breakfast Week which takes place this year from January 23-29.

The FUW is a keen supporter of Farmhouse Breakfast Week - an annual campaign run by the Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA) since 2000. With one in four people regularly skipping breakfast, HGCA are challenging the nation to re-evaluate their morning routine.

Their campaign aims to raise awareness of the benefits of eating a healthy breakfast and demonstrate the variety of food on offer.

"Wales is renowned for the quality and freshness of its food and during the next few weeks I am really looking forward to showing off the best of our produce at centres of Government in Wales, Westminster and Brussels," said FUW President Gareth Vaughan.

The union's annual Welsh farmhouse breakfasts this year will take place at the National Assembly's Senedd building on Tuesday January 18, the House of Lords on Tuesday January 25 and the EC headquarters early next month.

And, for the second year running, the union's Caernarfonshire branch has also organised a series of Welsh breakfasts on five members' farms and at the Bryncir Mart cafe.

They will take place on January 24 at T?’n Hendre, Talybont, Bangor (tel: 01248 362 871); January 25 at Henblas, Dinas, Llanwnda (01286 830 459); January 26 at Plas Newydd, Llwyndyrys (01758 750 656); January 27 at Gwyndy, Tudweiliog (01758 770 274); and on January 28 at Dylasau Uchaf, Padog, Betws y Coed (01690 770 215) and Cegin Ann, Bryncir Livestock Auction Centre (01766 530 828).

"We’re sending invitations to all our members in the Caernarfonshire area who are more than welcome to bring along anyone with them to any of these local events," said FUW's Caernarfonshire county chairman Morgan Jones-Parry.

"Pre-booking a time slot is advisable. We will also be inviting local AMs, MPs, councillors, representatives of the Welsh Assembly Civil Service, Gwynedd Council staff, Snowdonia National Park, local schools and other establishments and anyone else we can think of.

"Local shops very kindly donated all produce free of charge last year and we hope for the same support this year. We will be charging £10 each for a full, cooked breakfast which will also include cereals, fruit juice, toast, tea and coffee.

"All proceeds will be split this year between the Wales Air Ambulance, which is the FUW President's chosen charity, and the Caernarfonshire fund for sponsoring this year's Royal Welsh Show," added Mr Jones-Parry.

Farmers' Union of Wales president Gareth Vaughan receives the MBE in the New Year Honours List for services to agriculture.

He said: "I am proud to accept this honour on behalf of all staff within the union who carry out such dedicated work. I am merely the figurehead and I must pay tribute to all those hard-working people."

Mr Vaughan said he owed a great deal to Llangurig YFC, which he joined after leaving school at 15, and the FUW, both of which "have been there for me" after "wasting so much of my school days".

"I owe a great deal to the union and to the YFC for the influences and experiences I have gained from being members of both organisations which made a great impression on me.

"The YFC, with its varied weekly programme of events, its support group of advisory members and club leaders, and the encouragement to develop our strengths at every opportunity, impressed me greatly.

"Within the FUW I've been very fortunate to have the support of some top-class staff who can be totally relied on at all times. I also offer many thanks to my family who have looked after things at home to allow me the time to spend on union work."

Mr Vaughan runs a traditional beef and sheep unit at Cwmyrhiewdre Farm, Dolfor, near Newtown, in partnership with his wife of over 40 years, Audrey, and 12 years ago his daughter Catherine and son-in-law Brian joined the business.

Born in Llanidloes in 1941, Mr Vaughan attended Manledd Primary and Llanidloes High Schools. He has been an active member of the FUW for many years and president for over seven years.

He was chairman of the Newtown branch in 1988-89 and Montgomeryshire county chairman from 1991-93 and has also represented the county on the union's grand council and land use and parliamentary committee, the British Wool Marketing Board, the Meat and Livestock Commission liaison committee and the Agricultural Dwellinghouse Committee.

He was elected as the north Wales member of the FUW's national finance and organisation committee in 1998 before being elected vice president in 2000, deputy president in June 2002 and president in June 2003.