The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has submitted its response to the Independent Strategic Review of the Northern Ireland Agri-Food Sector, providing its view on the report.
UFU president Victor Chestnutt said, “We fully recognised that the primary focus of this report would be on the agri-food processing sector, but that it would also consider the agriculture sector given the very high level of integration with primary production. Plus, the need for a collegiate approach across the entire agri-food industry.
“It’s encouraging to see that positive recommendations and intended actions have been put forward on several key issues which we identified in our call for evidence submission. This includes a collaborative cross-cutting government departmental strategic approach, a capital investment scheme, continued labour availability/skills training and a co-ordinated industry/government market development/promotional activity.
“We’re supportive of the principles recommended but significant clarification and development work is needed. Particularly in relation to some of the structural concepts around the creation of a ‘Northern Ireland Diamond’ and a new ‘Sustainability Body’. It is imperative that all these proposed structures are industry led and supported by government knowledge.”
On the more specific recommendations and proposed actions for the agriculture industry, the UFU has recently submitted its response to the DAERA consultation on their proposals for a Future Agricultural Policy for Northern Ireland. In broad terms, it recognises the need to incentivise and drive change, particularly through the collection and use of data and co-design regarding an approach to future environmental schemes. In particular, the UFU welcomes the recommendation and proposed action to incentivise longer term land tenure/lets, through the development of a case based on productivity gains for income tax reliefs.
On the recommendations and proposed actions in relation to a ‘journey towards net zero principles’, the UFU remains concerned that the discussions within the NI Assembly on a related ‘climate change bill’ for Northern Ireland, are still ongoing and are creating major uncertainty within the agriculture industry.
“We fully recognise that change is being demanded of NI agriculture, but it is absolutely essential that any reduction in agriculture’s GHG emissions must be fair and credible and based on relevant expert advice” said the UFU president.
The UFU looks forward to future engagement with the NI government on all of these issues.
