UFU: Carbon auditing must not be forced on farmers

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has reiterated its firm opposition to making individual carbon auditing a mandatory condition of the Farm Sustainability Payment (FSP), following discussions at the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (AERA) Committee.

With the Committee now undertaking a four-week review, gathering evidence from industry representatives, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and wider stakeholders, the UFU is calling for a fair, practical and proportionate approach that supports farmers rather than placing further conditions on vital farm payments.

UFU deputy president Glenn Cuddy said, “Our position is clear. Carbon auditing must not be forced on farmers as a condition of receiving the Farm Sustainability Payment. We are not opposed to carbon foot printing, but it should be a voluntary tool that may assist farmers in identifying opportunities for improvement, not another mandatory requirement tied to vital farm support.

“We recognise the importance of reducing emissions in Northern Ireland and supporting farmers to improve environmental outcomes but it is also important that climate policy reflects the particular characteristics of agricultural emissions, including methane, and recognises the circumstances of Northern Ireland’s livestock sector. Farmers need a system that is scientifically robust, balanced and capable of recognising both emissions and the positive contribution farms make through carbon sequestration.

“Carbon footprint calculators measure emissions but do not adequately account for carbon sequestration on farms. Until there is a more complete and balanced method of assessment, it is unreasonable to expect farmers to accept mandatory carbon accounting as a condition of receiving support.

“Equally concerning is the proposal to fund the scheme through the Sustainable Agriculture Programme budget rather than Just Transition funding. Farmers’ direct support should not be redirected to finance additional compulsory requirements.”

The UFU also highlighted that while the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 establishes legally binding emissions reduction targets and provides for fully funded farm carbon audits, it does not specifically require individual carbon auditing to be made a mandatory condition of the Farm Sustainability Payment.

Mr Cuddy continued: “There is an important distinction between meeting our climate obligations and making carbon auditing compulsory as a condition of farm support. Farmers are already working to improve the sustainability and efficiency of their businesses, and any approach must recognise those efforts while ensuring they are properly supported.

“Over the next four weeks, we will work closely with the AERA Committee to ensure the concerns of our members are strongly represented. Our position remains unchanged. Carbon auditing should be voluntary, properly funded and based on a fair and scientifically robust assessment of farm emissions and sequestration.

“Farmers are willing to play their part in addressing climate change, but they must be supported and encouraged to do so, not forced into a system that fails to recognise the full environmental contribution of their farms.”