Farmers must be supported to protect food production amid global instability – ICSA

ICSA president Sean McNamara says Irish farmers must be properly supported if Europe is serious about protecting food production and ensuring fairness for family farms at a time of growing global instability.

Speaking at the ICSA AGM and annual conference in Portlaoise yesterday, which featured special guest Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, and was held under the theme ‘Frontline Farmers, Food Security, and Fairness: Protecting Irish Family Farms and Their Ability to Produce for the Future’, Mr McNamara said global events are already having immediate consequences for farm costs.

“The recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East has sent global energy markets into turmoil, and the knock-on consequences for farm costs are already beginning to emerge. When conflict erupts at that level, farmers feel the impact immediately through rising fuel, fertiliser and feed costs. Farmers are already under severe pressure, and shocks like this show just how vulnerable food production can become if farm businesses are not properly supported.”

Mr McNamara said Irish farmers play a crucial role in global food production but said that the ability of family farms to continue producing cannot be taken for granted. “Irish farmers are on the frontline of food production, supplying safe, high-quality food for Ireland and many other parts of the world.

“With cattle and sheep numbers declining across Europe and global demand continuing to grow, protecting the ability of Irish farmers to produce must be a priority. Europe cannot talk about food security while undermining the farmers who produce the food.”

He said the importance of the next CAP cannot be overstated. “CAP supports are the foundation that keeps many family farms viable. It has never been more important that we have a fully funded and ring-fenced CAP. Europe cannot afford to weaken the policy that underpins food production across the continent. Food security cannot be taken for granted. If Europe is serious about protecting its food supply, then it must also be serious about supporting the farmers who produce that food.”

Mr McNamara said the economic reality facing many drystock farmers remains challenging. “For too many beef, sheep, and suckler farmers the income simply does not reflect the work, the risk or the responsibility involved in producing food. If we want farmers to continue producing, the economic reality on farms must improve.”

He also criticised the EU decision on the Mercosur trade deal while it remains under legal review and before the European Parliament has voted. “Pushing ahead with this deal before the democratic process is complete shows a blatant disregard for farmers and for the democratic institutions of the European Union. It is deeply disturbing and deeply unfair to Irish farmers,” he said.

Mr McNamara said farmers cannot be expected to shoulder increasing environmental obligations without practical and fair policies. “Farmers are willing to play their part in environmental protection and nature restoration, but policies must be realistic and workable on real farms. Above all they must be fair. Farmers will not accept one rule for farmers and another for everyone else.”

Concluding, Mr McNamara said: “Farmers will meet the standards, but we will not accept double standards. If policymakers want farmers to continue producing food, they must start by backing the farmers who produce it.”