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A blog from the Northern Ireland Assembly Research and Information Service

Agriculture and Environment Blog Archive

Here you will find an archive of Agriculture & Environment Blog articles published before 1 May 2022, divided into their relevant categories.

Agriculture

Image by Jonathan Billinger and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons
The agri-food sector is a significant one for the economy and employment in Northern Ireland. For a number of reasons, the implications of the vote to leave the EU…
The merging of environment and agriculture
Local government underwent significant structural change in 2015 with the number of councils reducing from 26 to 11, and the transfer of many functions from central to local government….
Average Farm Business Income (FBI) for selected sectors, 2010/11 to 2015/16 forecast
Farm incomes over the last five years in Northern Ireland have shown considerable volatility and this presents challenges for the long- term sustainability of the industry, both within and…

Energy

Image of wind farm in front of a setting sun
There was considerable growth in the development of renewable electricity over the previous Northern Ireland Assembly mandate. Changes to renewable electricity support may impact the ability to achieve similar levels…

Environment

A photograph over Cuilcagh in County Fermanagh: a protected site that spans the border
Environmental regulation currently experienced by Northern Ireland (NI) and the Republic of Ireland (RoI) is greatly influenced by European Union (EU) policy frameworks. While some frameworks, such as the…
An image of the Peace Bridge in Derry/Londonderry
This blog article examines the similarities and differences between the planning systems north and south of the border on the island of Ireland. It is based on a more…
A satellite image showing Storm Ophelia making landfall in Ireland on 16 October 2017 (Image: NASA, public domain)
Climate change and the need for legislation to address it still remains a debate in Northern Ireland (NI), where specific legislation has not yet been introduced. The following article…

Fisheries

An image showing Lough Foyle
Lough Foyle is a valuable ecosystem and fishery situated on the border between the UK and Republic of Ireland. The maritime boundary – and ownership of the Lough –…
Fishing boats in Ardglass harbour (Creative Commons; Image: Ardfern)
Despite not being particularly large in overall UK terms, the sea fishing industry in Northern Ireland makes a significant contribution to the economy of the three County Down ports…

Rural Affairs

Image depicting a farm with a dramatic sky
In this Mental Health Awareness Week, which also coincides with this year’s Balmoral Show, this article examines an issue which has received comparatively little attention and on which, so…