The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) has directed the blame for food inflation at tightening regulations and trade deals, as it gears up to take to the streets to protest against the prospect of an EU-Mercosur free trade agreement.

ICSA rural development chair Edmond Phelan stated that rules imposed on farmers from Government and the EU are worsening food security by pushing those producing food out of the sector.

He also warned that food security concerns have been exacerbated by the push for solar farms and rewilding, which have deepened the reliance on food imports.

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“Consumers are also very worried about the cost of living and rising grocery prices, but food inflation is not the farmers’ fault,” Phelan commented.

“It’s the direct result of policy contradictions that prioritise energy and trade deals over food.

Out of business

“We need a CAP that supports production and fair incomes, not policies that drive farmers out of business.”

Speaking ahead of a planned ICSA protest at the gates of Leinster House next Thursday, Phelan warned of an absence of regulatory clarity at farm level that is “crippling confidence on the ground”.

“Farmers are being paralysed by uncertainty around the next CAP and the nitrates derogation,” he continued.

“They’re being asked to invest in new infrastructure like slurry storage without knowing what stocking rates will be allowed or what the final policy will look like.”

Phelan doubled down on criticising the EU’s approach of looking elsewhere for beef that can be produced here.

“It also makes no sense for Europe to outsource its food production to South America, where rainforests are being destroyed to produce beef that should be produced here.

“We can plant trees on every acre in Ireland, but it won’t make the slightest difference to the global climate if the Amazon is cut down to feed Europe.

“The end result will be millions going hungry globally. That’s not climate action, it’s climate hypocrisy.”