A new project for calculating the carbon footprint of NI farms will be rolled out later this year, a DAERA spokesperson has confirmed.

“DAERA is continuing to progress the development of the carbon footprinting project and is planning to launch the project during 2026,” the spokesperson said.

In a statement to the Irish Farmers Journal, DAERA made clear it is pushing on with the project, despite recent opposition from the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU).

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Last month, the UFU said carbon audits should not become a mandatory condition for claiming farm support payments in NI.

However, a DAERA spokesperson said this week that participation in the project “will be included as a conditionality for the Farm Sustainability Payment”.

The roll out of carbon footprinting has been delayed due to problems with appointing a company to deliver the carbon calculator element of the scheme.

The initial procurement exercise for a carbon calculator was subject to a legal challenge, although it is understood that a new tender process is nearing completion.

“The procurement competition to appoint a carbon calculator for the project is ongoing. Once the calculator is appointed, the timeline for the roll out of [carbon] footprints on farm will be finalised,” the DAERA spokesperson said.

Market demand

The UFU has questioned the drivers behind the carbon footprinting project, with the union arguing that it is being introduced “without a clear signal from the marketplace”.

However, various milk and meat processors have shown support for carbon audits, as well as other projects such as the soil nutrient health scheme and the bovine genetics project.

Speaking at an Ulster Bank event at Balmoral Show last week, Dale Farm chief executive Nick Whelan appeared frustrated with the delayed roll out of sustainability schemes in NI.

“The pace we are executing these programmes is disappointing. It is not just good enough to measure – we need to improve performance with these programmes. It will allow us to differentiate globally and get a premium for our products,” he said.

Similarly, the NI Meat Exporters’ Association (NIMEA), which represents local meat factories, gave its backing to the various schemes during a meeting with MLAs in March 2026.

“We certainly advocate for the upcoming carbon footprinting programme and we are a supporter of the bovine genetics scheme,” said Daryl McLaughlin from NIMEA.