DAERA Minister has today set out his vision
for a thriving, resilient and environmentally sustainable future
for Northern Ireland agriculture during his address to the Oxford
Farming Conference.
Speaking to over 600 farmers and industry leaders on the theme of
“Growing Resilience”, Minister Muir highlighted the importance of
bold decisions and collaboration to meet the challenges facing
the sector.
Minister Muir said: “Guided by science, powered by innovation and
united by ambition, we can build resilience, create green jobs,
improve our environment, restore nature and deliver food security
for generations to come.”
The Minister also outlined progress on key issues including farm
family tax, the Sustainable Agriculture Programme, bovine TB,
ammonia and the forthcoming UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary
(SPS) agri-food agreement.
The Minister said: “Ever since the farm family tax was
announced, I have stood steadfast with our farmers,
repeatedly stating the detrimental and disproportionate impact in
Northern Ireland. The decision to increase thresholds is
a significant concession and I commend the farming
community for its united front which was instrumental in securing
this long overdue change. While full removal of the family farm
tax is still requested, the changes should provide an injection
of hope and confidence to the farming sector.”
Highlighting the powerful megatrends reshaping the sector such as
climate change, biodiversity crises, technological developments,
food security, and changing consumer demands, Minister Muir
said: “In the face of these issues, it becomes ever more
important to prioritise programmes that build resilience and
sustainability and that's just what we are doing in Northern
Ireland.”
Minister Muir outlined the Sustainable Agriculture Programme,
backed by over £330million annually, as the cornerstone of his
vision for a resilient and nature-positive future. He noted
strong uptake of schemes under the Programme such as the Beef
Carbon Reduction Scheme, the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme and the
Farming with Nature Package, reflecting the sector's commitment
to biodiversity and climate action.
On animal health, Minister Muir reinforced his commitment to TB
eradication: “Eradicating bovine TB remains a top priority. In
April last year, I endorsed the TB Partnership Steering Group's
blueprint for eradication and work is underway on five key areas.
In October 2025, (Irish Government) Minister Martin Heydon and I
launched a new cross-border pilot under the Shared Island
Initiative to support reduction of bovine TB incidence and
transmission.”
The Minister also highlighted ongoing work to tackle the
stubbornly high levels of ammonia emissions,telling the
conference: “I am determined to identify a pathway to reduce
ammonia emissions, as well as being able to support sustainable
development within the agriculture sector. Following engagement
with farming and environmental sector representatives late last
year, I believe we can work together to develop a Northern
Ireland-wide ammonia support programme to unlock this issue.”
On trade, the Minister said: “Our unique dual market access to
both the European Union and rest of the UK continues to provide a
real competitive opportunity. I continue to press for maximum
possible dynamic alignment with EU regulations as part of the
forthcoming SPS agri-food agreement which swiftly eases trade
flows.”
Minister Muir also stressed the importance of science and
research in the current age of misinformation, saying: “It is
more important than ever that we stand up for science and
research to inform decision-making in relation to agriculture.
Our global reputation, the quality and safety of our proud
food-producing nation depends upon it.”
The Minister concluded: “I am confident that together we can
build a thriving, resilient and environmentally sustainable
sector. This demands bold decisions, strong leadership, and deep
collaboration across government, industry, and communities.
“If the challenges that have emerged since I addressed this
conference last year are anything to go by, the road ahead will
not be easy, but with shared purpose and determination, I am
confident we can succeed.”
