“The production of quality food must be at the heart of our farm policies moving forward. It makes no sense to propose growing energy crops on our best land when there is only five days food supply in Ireland at any time.” The South Down MLA also believes that supermarkets are not acting in the best interests of local farmers from a number of different perspectives.

“Shoppers are buying large quantities of food during a single visit to these retail outlets. However, much of this produce is not eaten and ends up in the bin. I would prefer a return to more traditional, smaller shops. This would encourage consumers to buy smaller quantities of food at any one time, thereby creating less waste. Local farmers will benefit because of the opportunity to work more closely with local retailers while the economy as a whole will benefit from the extra jobs created.”

The DUP’s Edwin Poots also highlighted the need for farming in Northern Ireland to become more focussed on the production of quality food and for this output to be marketed accordingly.

“Meat companies in Scotland can offer farmers thirty pence per kilo more for cattle than is currently available from the plants in Northern Ireland,” he told NIIAS members.

“Our own beef industry should be in a position to obtain higher market returns from the retail sector, which can be passed on to farmers. But this will take a commitment to research and development. AFBI Hillsborough is located in my Lagan Valley Constituency and it is crucial that the work ongoing at the Institute is fully supported.

Alliance Party leader David Ford told Institute members that a coordinated approach is required between the various government departments where a number of important land use issues are concerned.

“This is particularly so in the case of developing alternative energy strategies. It is clear that DARD, DETI and DOE are basically doing their own separate thing on this important issue whereas they should be talking closely to one another in order to arrive at the best possible solutions for Northern Ireland,” he added.

“I also believe that local agriculture can build on its tremendous heritage from a tourism point of view.”

Sinn Féin’s Willie Clark told Institute members that his party is against the burning of animal waste as a way of reducing Northern Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels.

“The proposed incinerator at Glenavy is not the answer to the problems facing the poultry industry,” he stressed.

“There are other options that can be employed. One is in-vessel composting which would convert poultry litter into a valuable soil conditioner.

“We are also against the growing and utilisation of GM crops. The production of biomass, however, represents a viable way forward for farming, which together with wind can be used to fuel an all-island economy. Hemp is another crop with a significant potential in Ireland. It can be used to develop a wide range of different products, many of which can be used within the construction industry.”

Agriculture Committee vice chairman Tom Elliott then called for the issue of GM Crops to be thoroughly debated by both politicians and the general public throughout Northern Ireland. “Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK are already well behind many other regions of the world when it comes to utilising this technology,” he explained. The reality is that most of the meat products we consume in the province have been derived from animals fed GM meal. And I am pretty sure that most members of the general public are not aware of this,” he further explained.

“Our farmers must not be left at a disadvantage when it comes to utilising technologies already widely adapted in other parts of the world. I now intend raising the GM issue at the Assembly as a matter of priority, particularly as we have a farm minister from to a party which is totally against GM.”

Commenting on the performance of the various Committees to date, the Fermanagh-South Tyrone MLA stressed that steps must be taken to give them more power.

“We can advise ministers but they are not obliged to take our points of view on board,” he commented. “But when this has happened, genuine progress was made. A case in point was the Agriculture Committee’s recommendation to make Farm Nutrient Management Scheme advance payments. This approach was implemented and has served to improve cash flows on farms throughout the province.” But Tom Elliott believes that the Executive and the various committees have yet to make a practical difference in terms of improving the everyday lives of everyone living in Northern Ireland. “And we don’t need more legislation to achieve,” he concluded. “Farmers want less bureaucracy and red tape. The way to achieve this is for the Executive to take a more practical approach in dealing with this important issue. More legislation and regulations will only serve to make the matter worse!”