The Stakeholder Task and Finish Group, established to support the development of a revised Nutrients Action Programme (NAP), has completed its work and the proposals have been submitted to the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir, who is releasing them for consultation today (29 June).
The Stakeholder Group brought together representatives from farming, agri-food processing, environment and DAERA to review and refine proposals aimed at improving water quality across Northern Ireland, while supporting a sustainable and productive agri-food sector.
The process was chaired by an independent consultant and took nine months. During that period, participants worked through a wide range of issues, drawing on scientific evidence, practical experience and stakeholder expertise to develop the set of proposals that are being issued for wider consultation.
Independent chair Karen Brosnan said: “The process has been constructive and respectful, involving people with different perspectives but a shared recognition of the importance of better environmental outcomes from farming practices that support sustainable productivity.
“All participants invested significant time and effort in examining the evidence, testing ideas and working through areas of disagreement. While not everyone started from the same position, there was a genuine commitment throughout to finding practical solutions and identifying areas of common ground.”
John McLenaghan, President of the Ulster Farmers’ Union, said: “Throughout this process we worked to ensure the proposals are practical, proportionate and grounded in the realities of farming across Northern Ireland.
“While there will be challenges ahead, the collaborative approach taken has developed a set of proposals that seek to drive forward a sustainable agri-food sector and at the same time deliver environmental improvements.”
Max Bryant, CEO of Northern Ireland Environment link (NIEL), said: “This unique approach recognised our shared need for clean water and healthy ecosystems – for health, nature and food production – and we all have a role in improving it.
“It’s very positive that we now have a set of targeted actions that will support better environmental outcomes through practical, evidence-led changes in land and nutrient management.”
Ian Stevenson, CEO at the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland, said: “When we were invited to participate in the Task and Finish Group we were coming from a position where our dairy farmers felt that they weren’t being recognised for any of the good work they had done on environmental improvement over the years since the first NAP was introduced in Northern Ireland.
“Since then, we have worked collaboratively and constructively as a group through the Task and Finish process to reach a set of science and evidence led proposals that each sector can now sit down and consider in detail during the consultation process.”
Everyone with an interest in the future of water quality, agriculture and the environment in Northern Ireland is encouraged to engage with the consultation process and consider the proposals in full. More information about the proposals are available on this website and the consultation can be accessed at the DAERA website.
A series of information events are planned by stakeholders throughout the consultation period. Look out for details of these through the usual routes – directly from membership organisations or via DAERA website and communications. All events will also be listed here on this website.
