Balmoral Show: NI's food sector serves up its best on day two of show

The specifics of how the industry’s footprint can be expanded were addressed by Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) chief executive: Michael Bell.

He referenced a backdrop of the UK having no option but to expand the scope of its farming and food industries, adding:

“It is current Westminster policy to retain food self sufficiency levels at around 63%. But given the backdrop of a growing population, this means that the indigenous output of agriculture in the UK must increase. And the same principle holds where food processing is concerned.”

The NIFDA representative believes that, in such a context, agriculture and food in Northern Ireland can expand significantly.

He said: “And this will add to an already good news story. Northern Ireland currently account for 10% of all the food actually produced in the UK.

“So in many ways, we are already punching above our weight given that such high levels of farming and food performance are being achieved from a region that accounts for only 3% of the UK’s total population.”

But according to the NIFDA representative this envisaged expansion must be achieved in a wholly sustainable manner.

“There are a number of key environmental challenges which farming and food must address. The current phosphate problem in Lough Neagh is one of them.

“The high level of ammonia emissions from our livestock sectors is another.”

According to Michael Bell, investing in new technologies will help deliver th solutions at that are required in this regard. “And this will come through the private sector,” he stressed. “And there is a clear role model of success to be learnt form tin this regard.

“Previously, the farming and food sectors successfully addressed the challenges posed in the context of the EU Nitrates’ Directive.

“We also need planning regulations that meet the need of sectors committed to sustainable investment.”

Balmoral Show has also seen the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) kick starting a campaign, designed to highlight the key role played by the organisation at the very heart of Northern Ireland’s farming and food sectors.

The work centres on a review of the myriad activities undertaken by LMC. But it also asks the question: how can the scope of the organisation’s services be built upon to meet the future needs of a fast changing beef and lamb sector?

And at the very heart of this issue lies the important matter of LMC being funded appropriately.

The organisation’s chief executive, Colin Smith, explained. “We need a sustainable funding model for the future. And this is an issue that we hope to discuss with all relevant stakeholder bodies during the period ahead.

“It will be part of an engagement that looks at the tremendous opportunities that exist to widen the footprint of Northern Ireland’s beef and lamb sectors.”

The Balmoral launch event provided Commission chairman, Joe Stewart, with an opportunity to reflect n the range of services provided by the organisation.

He added: “Our core objective at all times is to add value to the levy monies secured from farmers and processors. And we will continue to build on this for the future.”