Consultation on Future Agricultural Policy Proposals for Northern Ireland
Overview
We now have a unique opportunity, for the first time in almost 50 years, to redefine our agricultural policy and target support to meet our local priorities and needs much more effectively.
The actions of many generations of farmers and growers have shaped our natural environment and the biodiversity that it supports. The health of this environment that is passed to future generations will be critically influenced by the choices that we make now. We need to ensure that excess nutrients do not seep into our waterways, that ammonia emissions are reduced to restore the health of vulnerable habitats, that agriculture plays its fair share in our journey to net zero carbon and that biodiversity loss is halted and reversed. With appropriately designed policy interventions and innovation, all of this can be achieved without compromising the economic viability of the sector.
The Future Agricultural Policy Framework Portfolio for Northern Ireland (was published by the Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) on 24 August 2021. The Framework Portfolio took into account the views of key food, farming and environmental stakeholders from an engagement exercise undertaken in 2018. Based on the four key outcomes of increased productivity, environmental sustainability, improved resilience and an effective functioning supply chain, it charts the way forward for a future agricultural policy which better meets Northern Ireland’s needs.
This consultation presents the high level policy proposals of the workstreams for future support measures that are being developed to achieve the outcomes outlined in the Framework and develop a future sustainable agricultural industry in which all farmers are supported on an equitable basis to make best use of the assets at their disposal, and to invest in all forms of capital.
Why your views matter
This consultation provides an opportunity for you to share your views on the Future Agricultural Policy Proposals for Northern Ireland. A collaborative effort with industry and stakeholders is essential in the co-development and design of new measures and interventions to redefine our future agricultural policy and target support to meet our local priorities and needs more effectively going forward. All stakeholders with an interest in food production and land use are encouraged to respond.
Privacy
The Department intends to publish a summary of responses following the closing date. Your response, and all other responses to this consultation, may be disclosed on request. The Department can only refuse to disclose information in exceptional circumstances.
This means that information provided by you in response to the stakeholder engagement is unlikely to be treated as confidential, except in very particular circumstances. The Lord Chancellor’s Code of Practice on the Freedom of Information Act provides that:
- The Department should only accept information from third parties in confidence if it is necessary to obtain that information in connection with the exercise of any of the Department’s functions and it would not otherwise be provided;
- The Department should not agree to hold information received from third parties “in confidence” which is not confidential in nature; and
- Acceptance by the Department of confidentiality provisions must be for good reasons, capable of being justified to the Information Commissioner.
The information you provide in completing this consultation will be controlled and processed in line with Data Protection Legislation by DAERA. To find out more about how we handle your personal information, DAERA’s Privacy Notice can be viewed online at http://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/daera-privacy-statement
How to respond
To respond via Citizen Space, please click on the button below to commence the online survey.
The consultation questionnaire is divided into 15 sections: an introductory section, 13 sections considering the policy proposals for each of the key policy areas and a section on Impact Assessment questions.
The Introductory section will ask you to provide the following information:
Your name;
Email address; and
Name of the organisation you represent (if applicable).
These 3 Introduction questions are not compulsory.
You may answer as many or as few of the questions in each of these sections as you wish to do. There is also the option to save your work and return at a later time to complete as long as you do so and submit your response before the consultation closes.
Most of the questions require a Yes or No answer, however some also require you to explain your answer. We ask you to answer questions concisely and in no more than 250 words.
Once completed a confirmation email will be sent to the email address you have entered and a copy of your responses will be emailed to the address you provide from the address nidirect2@mail1.citizenspace.com with the subject "Response received - Response ID: XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-X". If it does not appear in your inbox within a couple of minutes, please check your "spam" or "junk" folder.
Events
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Future Agricultural Policy Proposals Consultation Information Session 1
From 11 Jan 2022 at 14:00 to 11 Jan 2022 at 15:00Future Agricultural Policy Proposals Consultation Information Session 1. To register for this event please go to the DAERA homepage where you can register. See the Related section below for the link.
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Future Agricultural Policy Proposals Consultation Information Session 2
From 20 Jan 2022 at 19:00 to 20 Jan 2022 at 20:00Future Agricultural Policy Proposals Consultation Information Session 2. To register for this event please go to the DAERA homepage where you can register. See the Related section below for the link.
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Future Agricultural Policy Proposals Consultation Information Session 3.
From 28 Jan 2022 at 14:00 to 28 Jan 2022 at 15:00Future Agricultural Policy Proposals Consultation Information Session 3. To register for this event please go to the DAERA homepage where you can register. See the Related section below for the link.
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Future Agricultural Policy Proposals Consultation Information Session 4
From 2 Feb 2022 at 10:00 to 2 Feb 2022 at 11:00Future Agricultural Policy Proposals Consultation Information Session 4. To register for this event please go to the DAERA homepage where you can register. See the Related section below for the link.
Audiences
- All stakeholders
Interests
- Policy Development
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