Sustainability measures must work for farmers and reflect market demand

County Fermanagh countryside. Picture: Cliff Donaldson

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has warned that carbon auditing must not become a mandatory condition for farm support, stressing that any move in this direction must be firmly grounded in real market demand.

With DAERA continuing to shape its Sustainable Agriculture Programme, including proposals linked to farm-level carbon assessments, the UFU has said farmers need greater certainty around what is being proposed and why.  UFU President William Irvine said there is growing concern across the industry that new requirements are being introduced without a clear signal from the marketplace.  “Farm businesses are being asked to adapt at pace, but there remains a lack of clarity about who is ultimately driving the need for carbon audits,” said Mr Irvine. “If this is genuinely a market requirement, then that needs to be clearly articulated by processors, retailers and others in the supply chain.”

The UFU has made it clear that carbon auditing should not be tied to future support payments and must not become another layer of conditionality placed on farmers.  “Linking carbon audits to support payments is not the right approach,” Mr Irvine said. “These decisions should be commercially driven. If the market requires carbon data, then it must also recognise the cost, time and investment involved for farm businesses and provide a fair return.”

The Union also highlighted the need for stronger communication from DAERA as proposals continue to evolve, noting that many farmers remain uncertain about how carbon data would be collected, used and valued.  “There are still too many unanswered questions,” Mr Irvine said. “Farmers need straightforward information on what participation would involve, how their data will be handled and, importantly, what benefit it delivers back to their business.”

The UFU recently confirmed to DAERA its opposition to farmers being required to carry out individual carbon audits, underlining growing concerns among members on the issue.  “Farmers are not opposed to improving sustainability,” Mr Irvine added. “But any measures brought forward must be practical, proportionate and aligned with clear market signals and not imposed without justification.”