MEMBERS of the local agri-food industry in Co Antrim have been urged not to let the uncertainty surrounding Brexit become a distraction.
Brexit, skills concerns, changing consumer habits and lack of political leadership were the hot topics discussed by local farmers and businesses at a special business briefing hosted by First Trust Bank.
Over 50 local people gathered at the Tullyglass Hotel in Ballymena last week to hear the latest economic forecast from Gareth Hetherington from the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre followed by a Mid and East Antrim regional economic overview from his colleague Dr Eoin Magennis. Myles Patton, senior agricultural economist at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) also shared recent research into the potential implications of various post Brexit trade deal scenarios for the local agri-food industry.
Speaking at the briefing, Noelle Mullan, business centre leader at First Trust Bank’s North and West Business Centre said Brexit must not become a distraction for the local agri-food businesses.
“Of course, the eventual trade deals with the EU and the rest of the world that may come after Brexit will be important. The implications of any resulting tariffs will directly impact our competitiveness in export markets, as will the relationships with other countries who may have different standards when it comes to food provenance and quality processes," she said.
“Unfortunately for us however - Brexit is for now a waiting game - albeit a high stakes one - and while we welcome the recognition of the importance of the all-island agri-food sector in the negotiations, we believe that there is much the local industry can and should be focused on while we await the outcome. Other challenges closer to home include a growing skills gap, the lack of a local administration and of course the wider dynamic of changing consumer habits when it comes to food – arguably all equally, if not more important than what Brexit might bring. Local farmers, primary producers and processors should not lose sight of these factors and would do well to focus on those areas that we have some control over.”
The business briefing event is the second in a series of First Trust Bank Business Briefing Roadshow events being held across Northern Ireland this year, mirroring the Bank’s new regional business centres.
