Northern Ireland’s first Food Strategy Framework was launched today (Thursday, November 14) by Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister Andrew Muir.
Entitled ‘Food at the heart of our society – A prospectus for change’, the strategy has as its key aim making Northern Ireland a world leader in sustainable, heathy and nutritious food.
The Northern Ireland Executive approved strategic framework sets the long-term direction and presents a new whole of government approach around food to deliver better outcomes for Northern Ireland.
It aims to transform the food system for future generations and help position Northern Ireland as the home of sustainable food.
The framework will ensure strong alignment across linked policy areas such as agriculture, environment, education, economic, social and public health, underpinned by equality, children’s rights, and rural needs impact assessments.
It will provide an enabling environment that brings together a wide range of policy perspectives to deal with multi-faceted issues in a holistic way, adding value and delivering better outcomes, according to DAERA.
Speaking at the launch during a visit to Carrick Greengrocers in Carrickfergus, Minister Muir commented: “The framework recognises the interconnectedness between food, health, the economy and the environment.
“From obesity, food poverty and waste to climate change and biodiversity loss, the food we produce and eat is a major factor in some of the greatest problems facing Northern Ireland. It is also a vital part of the solutions.”
“My [Stormont] Executive colleagues and I are committed to focusing our collective efforts to maximise the opportunities our food system offers to benefit the health, economy and environment of Northern Ireland and lay the foundations for the generations to come.”
Minister Muir explained that he plans to bring forward an action plan in early 2025, which will provide more details on how the government intends to start the transformation of the food system.
The DAERA minister also praised the work of Carrick Greengrocers who he described as: “A fantastic example of a community owned greengrocer, positioned within the centre of Carrickfergus, making a real impact supplying local people with nutritious, local, in season food.
“It is important that we all value our food and where it comes from and I would like to pay tribute to all our food heroes, who grow, produce and make our food and I look forward to the next steps we take together to shape a better tomorrow.”
Food Strategy Framework
The Northern Ireland Food Strategy Framework aims to deliver a whole of government
approach to address the strategic issues within which food plays an underpinning role,
aspiring:
- To be a world-leading, environmentally sustainable and ethical food-producing
region, recognised for the high standards of quality, nutrition, safety and integrity of
our food;
• To build prosperity and competitiveness through boosting productivity, the use of
science, technology, innovation and data while continuing to invest in the knowledge
and skills needed to future proof our industry;
• To make a collective effort on improving the health of our people through dietary
choices;
• To place climate, environmental sustainability and public health at the heart of food
decision making.
