CAFRE continues to deliver its essential services

The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) has moved to assure the agri-food industry and its students that it is continuing to provide its vital support in the midst of the continuing fight against the spread of the Coronavirus.

CAFRE Director Martin McKendry said: “Whilst the College has ceased the delivery of face-to-face education and training programmes, our lecturing and advisory staff are still providing these services remotely.

“If you are studying or working in the agriculture, food, horticulture or equine sectors, you should look for updates from the College on the College’s website at www.cafre.ac.uk.

“In these unprecedented times, the use of social media to deliver information has never been so important and CAFRE regularly uses Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to provide further updates and signposting.

“So, please follow us on Twitter @discoverCAFRE, search for Discover CAFRE on Facebook and look for @discovercafre on Instagram. Our YouTube channel CAFREtv also provides a host of informative videos on advice for the industry and our students.”

McKendry continued: “Our remote learning platform can be accessed via the ‘Moodle’ section on the college website and our sections on industry training are regularly updated. CAFRE continues to be an integral part of the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs’ Food and Farming Group.

“We have also placed a section on Covid-19 on www.cafre.ac.uk which is providing information on events that have been postponed and will be updated regularly with fresh information on developments as the crisis continues.

“We are also providing regular news and technical updates through local newspapers and the farming press.

“Finally, please remember that safeguarding your health is crucial and therefore you should follow all guidelines to stay safe and protect your family, friends and work colleagues. Updated Government advice is available on the Public Health Agency NI (PHANI) website. Please check their site regularly to keep up to date.”

Meanwhile farm minister Edwin Poots has paused all routine Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) inspections of businesses, industry and utility services until 30 April 2020.

This follows on from an earlier decision to pause routine farm inspections and is a further response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also takes pressure off businesses, industry and utility service providers, who are working extremely hard to ensure the economy and utility services keep going where possible.

Minister Poots said: “COVID-19 is placing a lot of pressure on various parts of our business, industry and utility sectors and we must do all we can to relieve that pressure and minimise the amount of time that inspectors and workers come into contact with each other.”

Inspections paused by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), the Veterinary Service Animal Health Group( VSAHG), the Food and Farming Group (FFG) and the Marine and Fisheries Division include routine inspections under public health protection, pollution prevention and control of industrial emissions, waste and water regulations, the Animal By-Product (ABP) and Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE) regulations plus some marine and fisheries activities.”

Poots continued: “Pausing routine inspections in the short term will help the sector plan better and have clarity on what is expected from them during COVID-19. It also means we can direct the Department’s resources in the best and most effective way.

“However, essential inspections will continue while any reports of incidents with the potential to cause a significant impact on public health, animal health & welfare, plant health or the environment, including the safety of food supplies, illegal waste disposal or impacts on drinking water will continue to be investigated as normal.”