New concepts, new ideas and new solutions - Minister Poots

We must encourage new concepts, new ideas and new solutions to maximise opportunities for Northern Ireland’s agriculture, food, environment, marine, forestry and rural sectors – Poots.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Feb 2020, 10:00 BST
DAERA Minister Edwin Poots MLA is calling on the public to help shape the Department's Future Innovation Strategy. Responses should be submitted before Thursday, March 5, 2020.DAERA Minister Edwin Poots MLA is calling on the public to help shape the Department's Future Innovation Strategy. Responses should be submitted before Thursday, March 5, 2020.
DAERA Minister Edwin Poots MLA is calling on the public to help shape the Department's Future Innovation Strategy. Responses should be submitted before Thursday, March 5, 2020.

Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Edwin Poots MLA, made the comments as he called for views on his Department’s draft Innovation Strategy, currently out for consultation.

The Minister said: “We are facing many complex challenges requiring innovative solutions, including climate change and a growing world population.

“We need to be better at generating and exploiting novel ideas, improving processes and technologies and finding new ways of doing things.

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“We have to find more resilient and sustainable ways to produce food efficiently with a lower environmental footprint.

“Science and innovation are at the very heart of that challenge. I want this strategy to create an innovative culture across Northern Ireland.

“We cannot continue to do more of the same, I want to see a step change in the approach we take to encourage and support innovation in the agriculture, food, environment, marine, forestry and rural sectors.

“The need for innovation has never been greater.

“I would encourage anyone with an interest to take the opportunity to help shape the new DAERA Innovation Strategy.”

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) draft Innovation Strategy consultation document is currently available for comment. Responses will be accepted until Thursday 5 March 2020.

Download the consultation document from the DAERA website.

Related topics:Edwin Poots MLANorthern IrelandAgricultureScience