NI election issues guide: Agriculture
- Published
Northern Ireland goes to the polls on 5 May to elect a new assembly. Browse the parties' key agriculture priorities below.
Continue to implement 'Going for Growth' - the strategic action plan for agri-food
Comprehensively review the range of lending opportunities available to agricultural businesses and work with the banking sector to reduce the costs of accessing finance
Promote Northern Ireland's food and drink to other parts of the world by identifying new export markets. This can be achieved by adequately marketing Northern Ireland produce
Assist farmers and fishermen to work co-operatively to market produce together in order to get the best market price
Work with the agricultural industry to implement recommendations arising from 'Going for Growth'
Look at alternative finance models, including finance from the European Investment Bank, which allow existing businesses that are highly leveraged to survive and continue to sustainably grow
Support the introduction of a farm business investment scheme and a marketing body to promote food from Northern Ireland
We want the next rural development programme to target rural businesses who are helping to create jobs in rural areas - funding directly to businesses or infrastructure that will help develop and grow new rural businesses
Encourage organic farming
Introduce an independent Environmental Protection Agency
Take action to address alarming decline of bees by applying precautionary principle to use of pesticides
Reduce food waste by introducing regulations requiring surplus food from supermarkets to be offered to food banks
Ensure the agricultural industry retains benefits of EU membership
Deliver the Farm Business Improvement Scheme
Secure new markets for agri-food products
Support all-Ireland food labelling
Support the industry with policies that seek to cut energy costs, encourage skills development and competitively promote the north's food and drink sector
Create a Northern Ireland food strategy and marketing board similar to Bord Bia in the Republic of Ireland and Scotland Food and Drink
Seek to develop a one island product label that recognises Ireland as a unique region within Europe and unique produce of quality.
Greater recognition of Northern Ireland's food produce will help bolster both farming and agri-food export sectors. Expand protected geographical indication status to other Irish food products from this part of the island
Farming and agri-food sectors are key to the Northern Ireland economy, being the biggest contributor to sales, exports and employment within the manufacturing sector
Obtain greater stability in farm gate prices is key to success, with processors, banks and government all having to play their part. Radical thinking should not be eschewed. Getting out of EU would be liberating
Given the centrality of agriculture, it is inconceivable that there would not be a national agricultural support scheme as required
Our fishing industry, once so prosperous, is in the doldrums. British waters for British fishermen is our goal. This can only be achieved outside the EU
Ensure farmers receive a fairer share of the price paid for their produce in supermarkets
Promote agriculture as a sustainable career for young people
Improve cooperation between the NI Environment Agency and the agri-food industry
Reduce levels of complex and unnecessary bureaucracy
UKIP will stand up to Brussels, Westminster and Stormont in the best interests of our agriculture and fishing industries
UKIP are confident that no farmers or fisherman will be worse off when the UK leaves the EU
Fight to protect both farming and fishing industries and maintain them both to the fore in economic investment
Maintain that our agri-food products are world best and, by any measure, evidence of a deserved major local success story
Click or tap below to read more:
Parties listed alphabetically