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Feed Trade Topics from the Island of Ireland NIGTA opposes private members’ Climate Change Bill for Northern Ireland
of the Green Party, will be much more damaging, leading to massive
The Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association (NIGTA) has joined other
devastate the Northern Ireland economy. The reality is that the measures
agri-food stakeholder groups in describing as ‘irresponsible’ the actions
will contribute nothing to the global environment or to the challenge of
of politicians in Northern Ireland who are supporting the Green Party’s
feeding a growing population.”
private members’ bill on climate change.
job losses, rural depopulation and the loss of export earnings, which will
According to Robin Irvine, the inevitable outcome of this policy is
Those against the progress of the bill at Stormont point out that the
that the UK requirement for meat and dairy will simply be imported from
proposed legislation flies in the face of expert scientific advice. Moreover,
regions where emissions are higher, and animal health and welfare
it has not been subject to any economic risk assessment.
standards are much lower than is the case in Northern Ireland.
According to Robin Irvine, CEO of the NIGTA, the implementation
“While it is inevitable that the mitigation of climate change will impact
of the bill would be devastating to the local livestock sector. One of its
significantly on the agri-food sector, it is irresponsible for politicians to
consequences would be a reduction in meat and milk production by
proceed with legislation which ignores the valuable work of our expert
over 50%. “The proposed bill ignores the guidance of the UK Climate
scientists and researchers and which has not undergone a proper
Change Committee, which has calculated that an 82% reduction in
assessment as to the effect on employment and the economy,” Irvine
emissions in Northern Ireland will be sufficient for the UK to deliver its
concluded.
target of net-zero by 2050,” Irvine said. “Instead, many of our politicians 2045 without any reference to science or consideration of the social
If we don’t produce the food, someone else will!
and economic impact.”
The theory that food production in Ireland must be throttled back
are determined to commit Northern Ireland to a 100% reduction by
“Businesses across Northern Ireland are not opposed to robust
significantly as agriculture strives for ‘carbon neutrality’ was well and truly
programs to mitigate climate change, and are actively engaged on a daily
debunked this week, courtesy of the presentations given to the Alltech
basis on promoting sustainable practices throughout the food chain,”
Ireland Environmental Forum.
Irvine continued. The agri-food industry has been leading the way as
Numerous speakers pointed to the fact that, when set against the
one of the first sectors to engage with government in joint initiatives,
inevitability of a rising global population, the need to produce more food
which have had significant successes in mitigation of emissions to air
must be factored into the climate change debate. Yes, food waste is
and water.
an issue. But even if we succeed in tackling this challenge, the need to
“We are committed to play our part in the management of climate change and while we agree that the issue should be addressed by the
increase food output levels in order to feed a 9 billion world population remains very real.
Assembly, it is vital that the approach is informed by the best available
Moreover, if Ireland takes its foot off the gas, farmers in other
science and with a full understanding of the social and economic impact
countries will take up the slack. Another perspective alluded to by several
of the proposed measures.”
speakers was that of compartmentalising agriculture as a separate entity
The NIGTA representative went on to point out that an alternative
within national economies – where climate change is concerned – and
bill, tabled by Northern Ireland’s Farm Minister Edwin Poots, and
at individual country level. Contrast this with energy production and
supported by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural
consumption, where a more international approach is being taken.
Affairs (DAERA), is based on the UK Climate Change Committee guidelines. This approach, Irvine states, recognises the much greater importance of agriculture in Northern Ireland and that much of the food produced here is consumed in Great Britain.
There was total unanimity expressed regarding the potential that exists across the island of Ireland to produce food on a sustainable basis. This is especially the case where high-quality animal proteins are concerned. Alltech president and CEO Dr. Mark Lyons confirmed that Ireland will
“This will involve an evidence-based approach and has gone
play a critically important role in helping to feed the world moving forward.
through a full consultation and impact assessment,” Irvine explained.
“Improving sustainability will be at the heart of everything associated with
“This programme is described as challenging and will drive contraction
agriculture and food as both industries move forward,” Dr. Lyons stated.
across the agri-food sector as the inefficient operators are forced out of
“ And it is in this context that farmers must be prepared to enter into a
business. However, it is believed that the industry can survive such a
meaningful debate with consumers.”
programme preserving the majority of the 100,000 jobs supported by the sector and maintaining substantial export sales to GB and beyond. “By contrast, the private members’ bill, proposed by Clare Bailey
Page 22 May/June 2021 Feed Compounder
Dr. Lyons pointed to the valuable role that agriculture is already playing, from a climate change perspective, pointing specifically to its ability to sequester large quantities of carbon.
