{"id":1336148,"date":"2024-06-29T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-29T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.agriland.ie\/?p=1336148"},"modified":"2024-06-26T17:43:55","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T16:43:55","slug":"agriculture-cited-by-former-nfu-president-as-low-priority-for-politicians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lightsail.agriland.ie\/farming-news\/agriculture-cited-by-former-nfu-president-as-low-priority-for-politicians\/","title":{"rendered":"Agriculture cited by former NFU president as low priority for politicians"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The lack of recognition for agriculture on the part of political parties in the UK has been highlighted by a leading agricultural commentator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Former National Farmers\u2019 Union (NFU) president, Peter Kendall, was in Northern Ireland recently, attending the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI<\/a>) \u2018Farming and the Future\u2019 Open Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking at a breakfast, hosted to launch the two-day event, he expressed concern over the lack of seeming commitment on the part of the main political parties in the UK to recognise the needs of production agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He based this assessment on the content of the general election manifestos, produced by the Conservative and Labour parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking ahead, Kendall expressed the view that production agriculture had a key role to play in delivering both food security and environmental sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also highlighted the integrated nature of farming and food in Northern Ireland, citing the key role played by research bodies in making this happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kendall further explained: \u201cAgriculture must come forward with solutions to government in order for the industry to secure the support it needs into the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n AFBI director, Prof. Elizabeth Magowan also spoke at the launch of the \u2018Farming for the Future\u2019 event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Significantly, she is not recommending a specific carbon calculator, of which there are numerous options available, at the present time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, Magowan is strongly recommending farmers to calculate the carbon footprint of their businesses on a regular basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOnce a farmer finds a calculator that suits the particular need of the business in question, then it\u2019s a case of sticking consistently with this option,” she stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOnly in this way will consistent results and trends be secured.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Approximately 1,000 farmers visited the AFBI research farm at Hillsborough in Co. Down over a two day-period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Prof. Magowan, the securing of performance-related data across the widest possible range of farming activities is the only way to secure a sustainable future for the dairy industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd information sharing in an open and transparent manner at farm level will be part of this process,\u201d she further explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Securing holistic sustainability is the key driver for the various research programmes currently in train at AFBI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSustainability can be a very over used word. But in terms of developing the dairy sector, the following themes come into play – our economy has to be healthy, our society has to be healthy and our environment has to be healthy,” she continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd when these three priorities are working in harmony, sustainability will be delivered in its truest form.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The AFBI representative highlighted the specific challenges confronting the dairy sector in the way it interfaces with the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>
Data<\/strong> in agriculture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Air and water quality<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n