Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail (i) any steps his Department is taking to implement the UK Pesticides National Action Plan 2025 in Northern Ireland; and (ii) how his Department is supporting local farmers in transitioning to alternative pest management practices while ensuring agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability.
Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs: (i) My Department has published guidance on Integrated Pest Management practices (IPM), a sustainable approach to managing pests, weeds and diseases. In collaboration with other UK administrations my officials are working to develop a range of further measures to support the implementation of the UK Pesticides National Action Plan 2025. At a UK level, work has commenced on the potential use of Drone technology to aid precision application of pesticides, and on the development of an Horizon Scanning project to identify and address future gaps in pest control methods.
(ii) The new guidance on IPM practices supports local farmers in adopting alternative pest management practices. It provides clear and practical information about IPM and online tools are available to support planning and decision making. The guidance can be found on the DAERA website at https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/integrated-pest-management
DAERA will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to make sure pesticides are used sustainably to minimise their impact on the environment and human health.
ENDS
Your MLA 