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Return of Stormont Assembly welcomed by NFFN NI

Northern Ireland
Policy & Views

Politicians’ return to work in the Assembly at Stormont after two years of political gridlock has been welcomed by NFFN NI.

A new Assembly has now been sworn in and will get down to work for the first time since February 2022, with Alliance representative Andrew Muir chosen as the new minister at the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

Members of NFFN NI's steering group met with senior politicians at Stormont last week to discuss our priorities. We reminded politicians of our four-point plan for nature-friendly farming in Northern Ireland as we fear the country is falling behind other parts of the United Kingdom in the transition to sustainable agriculture.

We welcome the return of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive. The return of Government after nearly two years of absence will help provide the certainty that farmers need to adapt to a rapidly-changing world.

Cormac Dolan, NFFN NI manager

Cormac Dolan, NFFN NI manager, says: “The rollout of an ambitious package of policy interventions which support farmers to deliver high-quality food in nature-friendly ways is key to this. We are highlighting four points that need to be prioritised so sustainable farming can succeed here in Northern Ireland and hope the new minister can deliver on promises made for farming and nature.”

Our four-point plan wants politicians to:

  • Publish comprehensive details of the Farming For Nature package as soon as possible

  • Commit to funding schemes at a level which will deliver the commitments to nature and the climate written into law in the Climate Act of 2020

  • Publish an ambitious Environmental Strategy that recognises the role of nature-friendly farming in delivering its objectives

  • Commit to bring forward an NI Agriculture Act before the end of this Assembly mandate.

NFFN NI steering group chair Stephen Alexander said: “Northern Ireland has the potential to be at the forefront of the vital changes needed in farming. However, the absence of Government has severely hampered the local transition to nature-friendly farming.

“The new Assembly must now act quickly to prioritise bringing in truly ambitious, long-term and sustainable policies which support farmers to make the essential adaptations needed.”

NFFN NI representatives with Alliance politician John Blair at Stormont