NI backs farmers with greener habits - survey

Over 300,000 people in Northern Ireland had never visited a farm shop prior to the pandemic, but now visit regularly.

Further to this, nearly two-thirds (62 per cent) of those in Northern Ireland suggest they will be buying more home-grown produce as a result of the pandemic and Brexit.

These trends are encouraging as the bank launches its Sustainability Through Agri-Tech campaign in partnership with Nigel Owens MBE, world-renowned rugby union referee and cattle farmer based in Pontyberem, Wales. The campaign aims to support the whole agriculture industry in becoming carbon net zero by 2040, an ambition outlined by the National Farmers Unions.

The research uncovers appetite in Northern Ireland for sustainably sourced foods, with 27 per cent looking to purchase seasonal produce, an indication that consumers recognise their role in helping the sector become carbon neutral. Additionally, over half (52 per cent) believe grocery shopping from local stores and farm shops is better for the environment, and 48 per cent think purchasing from these outlets helps them to better understand where their produce has come from. Encouragingly, farms look increasingly likely to help, with nearly 8 in ten (78 per cent) of Northern Irish farmers planning to sell and process at least some of their produce locally within the next three years.

Residents of Northern Ireland are keen to understand how they can further reduce their carbon footprint, with 56 per cent wanting to support farmers more so the industry can become carbon neutral.

Barclays also surveyed 209 NI farmers from a larger sample of 1,000 UK farmers, as part of its Sustainability Through Agri-Tech campaign, and found that eight in ten (79 per cent) believe they could be carbon neutral by 2035. One in seven (14 per cent) believe that they have already reached this goal, while 73 per cent agree the pandemic has been the catalyst for them to think about how they can make their business more sustainable.