The 2025-2026 business plan published by DAERA points to a new emphasis within the department towards meeting a 2050 net zero greenhouse gas target as included in NI climate change legislation.

The annual business plan sets out the key commitments that DAERA will deliver in the year ahead.

In recent years those commitments have been made against an over-arching purpose, which has been to put “sustainability at the heart of a living, working, active landscape valued by everyone”. It is a strapline that has appeared on letters sent by DAERA to farmers, as well as other forms of communication. It has also been included within the DAERA business plan since 2020-2021.

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However, that ‘purpose’ has dropped off the latest iteration, to be replaced by a new vision which is: “Towards 2050: Developing a Net Zero nature positive future, supporting sustainable agriculture and thriving rural communities.”

Listed after the ‘purpose’ are the eight priorities for DAERA. The first priority is tackling and responding to climate change, followed by two priorities relating to protection of the environment.

There are then priorities around supporting agri-food, animal health and welfare, and building rural communities. All six of these priorities appeared in the 2024-2025 business plan.

However, there are two new priorities listed this year. The first relates to investing in science, research and development, while the other is to implement post-Brexit trading rules set out in the Windsor Framework.

“We will continue to fulfil our international obligations through full, timely and faithful implementation of [the] Windsor Framework,” states the DAERA document.

TB pledge

Other key pledges include that by the end of the current Stormont Assembly mandate in May 2027, the department will have brought forward “new, effective and evidence-based solutions capable of reducing and then eradicating bovine TB”.

To do that, the latest business plan commits to progressing with a policy on future wildlife intervention, to be informed by a public consultation.

The department will also provide farmers with clear and practical advice on biosecurity and undertaken enhanced disease surveillance and testing, with proposals to expand the use of the interferon gamma (blood) test.