Collaboration and engagement key to facing challenges

Date published: 16 May 2019

The challenges facing the agriculture, trade and environment sectors over the next year can only be met through genuine engagement and collaboration.

Pictured at the DAERA breakfast event are; (left-right) Billy Martin OBE, President of the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society, Ms Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau, US Consul General - Belfast, Dr Chris Kebell, New Zealand Agriculture Consul, and Dr Denis McMahon

That was the message from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Permanent Secretary Dr Denis McMahon during a wide-ranging speech to over 100 delegates at the 151st Royal Ulster Agriculture Society Balmoral Show.

Speaking after the annual DAERA breakfast event, Dr McMahon said: “DAERA has seen a very successful year. Our major and developing industry is worth over £4.5billion to the NI economy and employs over 100,000 people in the agri-food sector.

“Among this year’s achievements are;

  • The establishment of the TB Eradication Partnership;
  • The Farm Business Improvement Capital Scheme will potentially leverage over £72million of investment in the industry;
  • The Environmental Farming Scheme is progressing well with over 3,000 farmers having an EFS agreement;
  • We recently published the new Nutrient Action Programme for the next four years, and secured EU approval of the associated Nitrates Derogation;
  • The EU LEADER programme continues to gain momentum across all 10 LAG areas.  Some £30M has been committed across 700 projects, creating over 1000 full time equivalent jobs.

“Just today, DAERA, alongside the Department of Health and the Food Standards Agency, have launched a new approach in tackling the rising global threat of antimicrobial resistance. For the agri-sector, the new “Changing the Culture” – One Health AMR Action Plan for Northern Ireland, will involve continuation and improvement of the recommended biosecurity practices, farm health and vaccination programmes and good hygiene measures and sharing best practice widely.”

The Permanent Secretary continued: “There can be no doubt however, that DAERA faces a range of complex challenges in the coming year that will affect many areas within our organisation and we cannot face them, or indeed overcome them, alone.

“Only through collaboration and engagement with stakeholders and industry can we find solutions and resolutions to difficult issues such as Brexit, which has been a major focus for our industry and for DAERA over the last year. We continue to work at pace providing information and analysis to ensure Northern Ireland gets the best deal for our industry, our environment and our rural communities. Beyond Brexit, I have absolutely no doubt that Northern Ireland’s agri-food industry will survive, adapt and develop to new levels of success. We have a talent-driven industry consistently attracting hugely capable innovators and leaders.

“We must also work closely with industry on issues like TB and ammonia, both of which present particular challenges requiring team thinking. The success of this approach has been clearly demonstrated by today’s launch of a new guide to help farmers improve the environment by reducing ammonia emissions. The Code of Good Agricultural Practice has been co-produced with the farming industry and we will use this cooperative approach as we move towards producing a draft Ammonia Action Plan later in the year.”

Dr McMahon concluded: “I’d like to that this opportunity to thank all of our stakeholders for their engagement and continued support throughout the year. Together, we can ensure we achieve our joint vision of a living, working, active landscape valued by everyone.”

 

Notes to editors: 

  1. The department may take photographs and videos at announcements and events to publicise its work. Photographs, interviews, videos or other recordings may be issued to media organisations for publicity purposes or used in promotional material, including in publications, newspapers, magazines, other print media, on television, radio and electronic media (including social media and the internet). Photographs and videos will also be stored on the department’s internal records management system. The department will keep the photographs and recordings for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which they have been obtained. The department’s Privacy Policy is available on our website.  
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  3. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office on 028 9052 4619 or via email. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer on 028 9037 8110.

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