Background

75% of Northern Ireland’s land area is managed for agriculture. The global degradation of ecosystems is also a reality in the UK and Northern Ireland (State of Nature Report 2023), and unsustainable food production pressures on a finite amount of land is the biggest cause of terrestrial biodiversity loss (2026 UK Government Report). Farming and food systems depend on ecosystems.

The Sustainable Agriculture Policy Working Group (SAPWG) is comprised of experts from leading environmental organisations with a collective vision for sustainable land management and a transformed food and farming system that:

• ensures nature and biodiversity thrive on our land;
• supports farmers and rural communities towards a resilient future;
• ensures farming and land use help tackle the climate emergency; and
• provides access to healthy and affordable food for everyone.

SAPWG works to influence policy and build relationships and mutual learning opportunities with the agri-sector including DAERA, farmers, membership organisations eg UFU, NFFN, NIAPA and cooperatives, academic research institutes and industry media.

NIEL’s member organisations manage around 315,000 acres of land in Northern Ireland and work with over 3,000 farmers. Members of the Sustainable Agriculture Policy Working Group are:

• Butterfly Conservation NI
• Landscapes NI
• National Trust NI
• Nature Friendly Farming Network;
• The Rivers Trust
• RSPB
• Ulster Wildlife
• Woodland Trust

1. Nature friendly farming

Thriving wildlife, healthy soils and climate resilience are key to prosperous and productive farming businesses. SAPWG supports a transformation of Northern Ireland’s farming and food system to a more sustainable model and nature-based solutions, and lobbies for farmers to be adequately rewarded for delivering public goods that meet environmental outcomes, as with other parts of the UK and Europe.

• Urgent launch in 2026 of DAERA’s Farming with Nature agri-environment payment scheme, tailored in collaboration with eNGOs and farmers.
• Farming with Nature package becomes a central pillar for the future of the agricultural budget by 2030.
• The transition to Farming with Nature is fair and just, with a clear timeline for re-purposing payments, consistent knowledge transfer and practical advice at local level.
• Biodiversity audits prioritised alongside carbon audits in future schemes.
• Development of a High Nature Value support scheme to reward low input systems and Less Favoured Areas (LFAs) that are beneficial for biodiversity.

2. A Land Use Strategy for Northern Ireland

Our land is one of Northern Ireland’s most important assets, underpinning a healthy, prosperous society. Of 5,500 square miles, 75% is currently managed for agriculture. With ever-increasing societal needs, environmental and climate targets, future land use will need to be multi-functional and designed to balance competing demands and conflicting policy priorities, and to support long-term food security. This should in turn lay the foundations for a roadmap for the agricultural transition to nature friendly farming.

Key asks

• A Multi-functional Land Use Framework for Northern Ireland that is informed by the vision and principles identified by the Land Use Stakeholder Report developed in 2025.
• Consultation that is meaningful and engages stakeholders at local level.
• Land Use plans that contribute to commitments set out in Climate Act for Northern Ireland 2022 and the Global Biodiversity Framework.

3. A Vision for Agri-food

Food security is rising up the political and public agenda and the global supply chain shocks of recent years has highlighted the fragility of the food supply system in the UK. But food security centred on boosting domestic production alone won’t tackle today’s challenges – true food security needs to encompass farm resilience, nutritional quality, food accessibility and stability of supply to meet societal, environmental and economic needs.

Key asks

• Shorter, transparent, diversified supply chains with a fair market return for farmers that supports farmers’ adoption of sustainable farming practices.
• A ‘whole-systems’ approach to agri-food transformation.
• Support and education for locally-grown food.
• Implementation and progress evaluation of the NI Food Strategy Framework.
• Clear alignment and collaboration with Department of Health and Department of Education to improve public awareness on healthy, sustainable diets and well-being.

If you would like further information on the work of the Sustainable Agriculture Policy Working Group contact:

Contact:

Jill Montgomery
Area Lead – Agriculture and SAPWG Secretariat
Northern Ireland Environment Link (NIEL)
Gordon House
22-24 Lombard Street
Belfast BT1 1RD
Email: jillm@nienvironmentlink.org