This note summarises the Agriculture (Wales) Act 2023 (the AWA 2023) which received Royal Assent on 17 August 2023.

The AWA 2023 establishes sustainable land management (SLM) as the legislative framework for future agricultural policy and establishes four objectives which ministers must consider in the context of: climate change policy and the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 (that requires the consideration of future generations). This policy framework focuses on supporting farmers to produce food sustainably, alongside taking action to respond to the climate and nature emergencies.

The AWA 2023 also makes amendments to the Forestry Act 1967 and prohibits snares and glue traps.