Consultation on the Draft Ammonia Strategy for Northern Ireland

Proposals aim to help local farm businesses and rural communities thrive and be sustainable while protecting our environment.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched a consultation on their draft Ammonia Strategy - the first of its kind for Northern Ireland - and is keen for anyone with an interest to participate and provide their views.

Agriculture makes a significant contribution to the NI economy. However, those farming practices contribute to ammonia emissions, which in turn have adverse effects on nature and public health. 

DAERA recognises that ammonia emissions have adverse effects on nature and public health and need to be reduced significantly in the years ahead.

The interim targets to 2030 are to:

• reduce total NI agricultural ammonia emissions by at least 30 per cent from 2020 levels
• reduce ammonia at internationally designated sites by at least 40 per cent or to below set Critical Levels

The long-term target to 2050 is to reduce ammonia emissions to a point where set Critical Loads of nitrogen deposition and set Critical Levels of ammonia are at a more sustainable and pragmatic place.

This draft five year strategy aims to set NI on a pathway to achieving the 2030 and 2050 targets, and is based around two main pillars:

• an ammonia reduction programme
• conservation actions to protect and restore nature

Find out more about the consultation and how to respond.

Responses will inform a reworked strategy with proposed targets for 2030 that can secure the restoration of biodiversity, ecosystems, and the services they provide, while also facilitating the sustainable development of a prosperous agri-food industry.

First published 5 January 2023