A co-ordinated and joined up strategy on land management will help to ensure that agriculture and the environment can flourish in tandem.
That was the key message from Agriculture and Environment Minister Michelle McIlveen today as she received a Report on 'Sustainable Agricultural Land Management Strategy'.
The report was compiled by an expert working group, consisting of farmers, environmentalists, officials and food processors, chaired by Dr. John Gilliland. This is the first report of its kind for Northern Ireland, providing a number of recommendations on how best to support productive agriculture whilst improving environmental performance.
Dr. John Gilliland, Director of Agriculture at Devenish, said "This report seeks to empower farmers and landowners, with very farm specific, detailed information, on their productivity, their soil fertility, their water and habitat quality. Only then can they make the right decisions for their own land, which will build an inherent profitable resilience in their farm businesses. We believe the Northern Ireland Land Based Sector can deliver true resilient Sustainability - economic, environmental and social; and also become a World Exemplar, able to maximise its value from the marketplace".
To access the report please click this link - www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/sustainable-agricultural-land-management-strategy.
Photo: Members of the Expert Working Group present the Strategy to Minister McIlveen. Pictured L-R are; Patrick Casement, Sue Christie, James Brown, Minister McIlveen, Jonathan Birnie, John Gilliland, Martyn Blair, John Best.
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