51�Թ�

Rapid growth in horticulture, poultry and aquaculture expanded its food basket.

"If we wanted to source entirely local food in schools tomorrow, it couldn't be done, not least because our horticulture sector in Wales is so under-developed," he added.

The government's seasonal agricultural worker scheme will see 43,000 visas made available for the horticulture industry and 2,000 for poultry farms this year.

Neonicotinoids are a group of insecticides used in agriculture, horticulture and veterinary medicine to control pests - but they also harm bees and other beneficial insects.

He had a career in academic horticulture, teaching at a number of universities and colleges before working for the ministry of agriculture, where he was based in Leicester advising advising commercial growers.