DAERA considers Expert Working Group’s report on agricultural ammonia

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs today said it is carefully considering recommendations made by the Expert Working Group on Sustainable Agricultural Land Management in its publication “Making Ammonia Visible."

A spokesperson for DAERA said: “This report makes a series of recommendations on how to address the topic of ammonia emissions from agriculture and the subsequent impact of this air pollutant on the environment, including deposition of nitrogen onto important nature sites.

“The recommendations highlight the need for Government and the agri-food sector to work together to enable farmers to achieve significant mitigation of ammonia emissions. The report also seeks action from government on addressing knowledge gaps, increasing monitoring of ammonia emissions, reviewing the regulatory approach to ammonia emissions, encouraging ammonia mitigation measures and working in partnership with stakeholders. We are examining each of these recommendations in detail and some relevant actions are already under way.

“The response to this report will be led by the DAERA Project Board on Ammonia Reduction as it develops a DAERA Action Plan for Ammonia. The Project Board is to include representation from right across DAERA, its agencies and arms-length bodies, and will work closely with industry and environmental stakeholders. The Action Plan will propose steps and measures designed to deliver tangible and sustained reductions in ammonia emissions, reduce the impact of nitrogen deposition on nature and habitats and in particular, designated sites and also encourage uptake of ammonia mitigation measures on farms. Reducing ammonia emissions is also necessary for us to play our part in contributing to the UK’s international commitments in relation to air pollution and its impacts on human health and the environment.

“The Action Plan will also strengthen the evidence base around the ammonia emission baselines and emission factors highlighted within the report.  However, it is important to note that DAERA is currently using the best science available, through the UK-wide monitoring and modelling programme (National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory).  The Department is taking on-board the confidence limits associated with the current estimates of ammonia emissions to make informed, evidence-based decisions. 

“The Department’s key objective is to deliver both a short-term response and a long term solution which achieves both a sustainable agriculture sector and a protected and improved environment. We are committed to working in partnership with the agri-food and environment sectors to address the challenges presented by ammonia.

“The Department would like to thank the Group for dedicating their collective time and experience to produce this report.

Notes to editors: 

1. The Expert Working Group is a cross-sector and independent panel of experts which consists of farmers, environmentalists, supply chain experts and government officials. Having produced their original strategy, the Expert Working Group were asked in July 2016 by the then DAERA Minister to examine the issue of ammonia emissions from agriculture. In December 2017, the group finalised their report and issued it to DAERA.
2. The report is an Annex to “Delivering Our Future, Valuing Our Soils: A Sustainable Agricultural Land Management Strategy for Northern Ireland” which was published by the Expert Working Group in October 2016.
3. The “Making Ammonia Visible” report can be downloaded from the DAERA website.
4. “Making Ammonia Visible” is an annex to the Expert Working Group’s initial report “Delivering Our Future, Valuing Our Soils: A Sustainable Agricultural Land Management Strategy for Northern Ireland” which was published in October 2016 and can be downloaded from the DAERA website.
5. The Expert Working Group is chaired by Dr John Gilliland OBE. Dr John Gilliland is a renowned expert in sustainable land management and climate change, and a former President of the Ulster Farmers’ Union, former chair of the DEFRA Rural Climate Change Forum and a former Sustainable Development Commissioner for Northern Ireland. The Chair and Members serve in an individual and voluntary capacity and are not representative of any organisations with which they may be associated. Two senior civil servants served on the Expert Working Group.
6. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office on 028 9052 4619 or email DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk.
7. Please note that the out of office hours pager number has changed. Any queries, please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07623 974 383 and your call will be returned.
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