Senedd Election Hustings: The Future of the Hemp Economy and the Welsh Bioeconomy
26 April 2026 · 6:00 PM
Haverhub, Haverfordwest
Moderator: Sonia Klein
A policy-focused hustings bringing together Senedd candidates, sponsors, and supporters to debate the future of sustainable industry in Wales.
Senedd candidates from across the political spectrum will respond to a central question: Should Wales develop a national hemp and bioeconomy strategy, including a potential £50 million public-private investment programme, to support farmers, build domestic processing capacity, and create new green manufacturing industries?
The evening will include moderated policy discussion, audience questions, and cross-party dialogue — structured to ensure equal speaking time and substantive engagement with the economic evidence.
Date
26 April 2026
Time
6:00 PM
Duration
2 hours 30 minutes
Rhaglen · Agenda
5:30 PM
Doors open
6:00 PM
VIP opening address — global bioeconomy context
6:10 PM
Moderator welcome and ground rules
6:15 PM
Candidate introductions
6:30 PM
Round 1 — Policy positions on hemp and bioeconomy
6:55 PM
Round 2 — Economic challenge: the £50m investment scenario
7:15 PM
Interval
7:30 PM
Round 3 — Audience questions
8:05 PM
Round 4 — Cross-party questions
8:20 PM
Closing statements
8:30 PM
VIP closing address and public vote
Y Cymedrolwr · The Moderator
Sonia Klein
The World's First Hempconomist
Sonia Klein is the world's first Hempconomist. A research scientist turned international banker, she spent three years and $1.6 million developing a novel patented process for creating hemp block. Four houses have been built with the technology in Iowa. She is completing a PhD at Aberystwyth University in the Political Economy of Hemp and sits as a Trustee of the Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth.