Recognising the Importance of Food Security

Division held on 1 December 2025. The Motion, As Amended, Was Carried

Decision type

Simple Majority

Method

Lobby Division

Result

The Motion, As Amended, Was Carried

Debate

Food Security

Official Assembly record of this division Official Report of the debate

The motion voted on

Motion (Private Members' Motion): Recognising the Importance of Food Security

That this Assembly notes the importance of food security; believes food production should be recognised as a strategic asset in Northern Ireland; further notes Northern Ireland’s role in feeding 10 million people; celebrates the food and drink sector generating £4.9 billion Gross Value Added to Northern Ireland; stresses that investing in agriculture is essential for boosting productivity, job creation and delivering progress toward more environmentally sustainable practices; expresses grave concern that agri-food businesses face significant trading barriers as a result of the Windsor Framework and the application of EU law; condemns, in particular, the ongoing threat to the critical supply of veterinary medicines from Great Britain from 1 January 2026, as well as uncertainty surrounding new EU rules on deforestation-free products; highlights that this could undermine animal welfare and the resilience of UK-wide food supply chains; notes that current, aspirational climate targets would see a reduction in livestock numbers; believes that perfection cannot prevent progress; calls on the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to urgently bring proposals to the Executive to reduce Northern Ireland’s interim 2030 and 2040 emissions reduction targets in the interests of protecting food security and a just transition for agriculture; and further calls on the Minister to unlock greater levels of on-farm investment and innovation by providing immediate clarity on ammonia controls within planning, in keeping with the Executive’s Programme for Government.

The motion has not been assessed yet.

Tabled by: Mr Tom Buchanan, Mr William Irwin, Miss Michelle McIlveen

Totals

How each MLA voted

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