Serene countryside and idyllic rural landscape of green fields, rolling hills and grazing sheep in the Glens of Antrim, Northern Ireland
The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has responded to the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) ‘A Well-Adapted UK’ report, highlighting the need for government to work alongside farmers to strengthen resilience, support local food production, and safeguard future food security.
The UFU said the report reinforces the growing challenges facing agriculture as extreme weather events become more frequent and unpredictable, placing increasing pressure on farm businesses across Northern Ireland.
Farmers are already adapting through improved soil management, changes to cropping and grazing systems, investment in technology and measures to improve on-farm efficiency. However, the UFU stressed that farmers cannot deliver long-term resilience without practical support and policies that enable businesses to invest and grow.
UFU Deputy President Glenn Cuddy said, “The report highlights the importance of helping agriculture while maintaining domestic food production. That is particularly important in Northern Ireland, where local food production will play a critical role in future food security.”
Mr Cuddy continued, “Farmers are already seeing the impact of changing weather patterns through prolonged wet periods, more volatile seasons and increasing pressure from pests and disease. Building resilience across the industry will require long-term investment, practical support and policies that work with farmers, not against them.”
The UFU said greater focus is needed on tackling barriers that prevent farm businesses from adapting and modernising, including planning constraints and delays around replacement farm buildings and infrastructure.
“If government wants farmers to become more resilient and efficient, there must be a recognition that businesses need the ability to invest, modernise and plan for the future. Too often, current policy and planning barriers make that unnecessarily difficult and that hinders our ability to produce food sustainably.”
The Union also highlighted the need for greater focus on tackling emerging pests and diseases, which are expected to become an increasing challenge as weather patterns change.
“Food security is national security. Recent global instability has shown how vulnerable supply chains can become, and this report underlines why maintaining strong local food production supported by practical policy, investment and research must remain a priority.”
The UFU said it will continue to engage with government and policymakers to ensure that future climate adaptation policies support both environmental objectives and the long-term sustainability of food production in Northern Ireland.
