Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, has launched his 10-point corporate plan for 2025-2027, setting out his department’s strategic direction towards the sustainable agricultural transition.
The plan aims to guide the industry to net zero emission targets, improved water quality and enhanced environmental objectives, without compromising the viability of the agri-food and fishing sectors.
Speaking about the plan, Muir said: “I am pleased to publish my department’s corporate plan for 2025-27 which provides a 10-point roadmap for the rest of this assembly mandate.
“Its theme is ‘Towards 2050: Delivering a net zero nature positive future, supporting sustainable agriculture and thriving rural communities’.
“I want to make sure that the decisions I take and the direction of travel I have set, delivers environmental improvements, supports our valuable agri-food and fishing sectors, improves water quality and achieves strong, sustainable and diverse rural communities, underpinned by science and research,” Muir added.
The 10 key pledges are:
- Bring forward the carbon budget regulations to set carbon budgets and publish the Climate Action Plan;
- Improve water quality including implement the Lough Neagh report and action plan;
- Improve environmental governance;
- Continue roll out of the Sustainable Agriculture Programme (SAP);
- Bring forward new evidence-based solutions to eradicate bovine tuberculosis (TB);
- Deliver a range of new animal welfare priorities to protect domestic and farmed animals;
- Deliver a new, partnership-based rural policy framework capable of improving the wellbeing of rural communities;
- Publish and work to deliver a new nature recovery strategy to ensure 30% of land and seas are protected and well managed for nature by 2030;
- Publish and work to implement a new waste management strategy capable of building a low carbon circular economy;
- Continue to fulfil obligations to implement the Windsor framework and to support the UK government to negotiate a new ambitious and comprehensive agri-food, drink and sanitary, phytosanitary and veterinary agreement with the EU.
“There are significant challenges to meet coupled with real budget pressures and a constrained mandate, but my department is committed to working collectively to deliver on the pledges within this corporate plan,” Muir said.
The corporate plan provides a clear framework for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to deliver the environmental ambitions of the executive, as set out in the programme for government and help prioritise the resources available to it.
