Research crucial for farming’s future
All agri-research projects in Ireland should complement each other given their importance for the sector, according to ministers. Richard Halleron reports.
Farm ministers Michelle Gildernew and Brendan Smith have confirmed to agendaNi the crucial role which ongoing strategic research will play in allowing the various farming sectors throughout Ireland to meet the challenges that lie ahead. Speaking at the recent North/South Ministerial Council sectoral meeting on agriculture and rural development, which was held at AFBI in Hillsborough, both ministers went on to highlight the high degree of co-operation that already exists between the various farm research bodies and universities on the island.
“It’s important that clear lines of communication are maintained between the various research organisations,” stressed Michelle Gildernew.
“The last thing we want is for wasteful duplication of research. The challenge ahead is to ensure that all of the agri- research projects carried out on the island of Ireland are totally complementary in nature.”
Both farm ministers also gave a strong indication that, despite the current pressure on public sector budgets, current government funding allocations for agricultural research will, almost certainly, be maintained.
“It’s important that the results of all relevant research projects are communicated to farmers in the most effective way possible,” stressed Brendan Smith.
“This will require the open exchange of information between the various research centres.”
The comments directly preceded Belfast hosting a three-day international conference, which was entitled: ‘Food, Feed, Energy and Fibre from Land – A Vision for 2020’.
The event, which was organised by the British Society of Animal Science (BSAS) and the Agricultural Research Forum, marked the first occasion for a conference of this stature to be held in Northern Ireland.
Gildernew and Smith have also told agendaNi that securing an adequate budget for agriculture will be a key priority in the context of the forthcoming Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) review negotiations.
“We are expecting the Commission’s first formal set of proposals in the early autumn,” Smith confirmed.
“We all know that budgets will be under pressure. However, it’s important that the CAP continues to recognise the crucial work farmers carry out in terms of guaranteeing food supply and the tremendous service they provide in maintaining a countryside that everyone can enjoy.
“Food output must increase by approximately 70 per cent over the next 20 years in order to meet the needs of the envisaged growth in the world’s populations. And it’s farmers who will be asked to meet this challenge. Consumers in Europe have benefitted from a cheap supply of safe food for many years. Ireland’s farmers have played their part in making this happen. It is crucially important that future CAP support measures continue to recognise this fact.”
He continued: “Agriculture will also have a key role to play in producing the alternative energy sources, which the world will need in the future. And, again, this is an issue which will come under the spotlight, once the CAP review negotiations get underway.”
Michelle Gildernew pointed out that farmers will play a crucial role in allowing the island of Ireland to meet its future climate change obligations.
“We will also be fighting to make sure that the fundamentals of the current CAP support measures are maintained,” she added.
“And this will mean ensuring that local farmers continue to receive an adequate single farm payment, which is the bedrock of the support structure currently in place for local agriculture.
“I am already aware that policy differences are already opening up between the various UK regions on this issue. However, the bottom line is that the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Belfast will be making its own submission to Brussels, detailing the needs of local agriculture post-2013.”
