UK food business consultant, Dr. Clive Black, has characterised Ireland's Bord Bia as being 'best in class', specifically when it comes to delivering collaboration throughout the farming and food sectors.

He made the comment while addressing the 2025 Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) annual conference.

The context of the reference to Bord Bia related to a visit made by Black to Brazil some years ago, during which he interfaced with representatives from both Bord Bia and UK food promotion bodies.

He added: “I was extremely impressed with the professionalism demonstrated by the Bord Bia team members in attendance and the overall impression they made throughout the visit with everyone involved.”

Black used his conference presentation to highlight what he considered to be the opportunities that can be grasped by Northern Ireland’s food processing sector over the coming years.

One of these is increasing population growth.

Black further explained: “The UK’s population is set to increase by 1.5% per annum over the coming years. This is in total contrast to the situation pertaining a decade ago.

“More people to feed will automatically create opportunities for growth across the food processing sector.”

The food business consultant indicated that the term ‘sustainability’ is relative in nature.

“Despite all the hype that has been created around cultured meat, real beef, lamb, chicken, pork, and fish consumption has increased significantly in the UK over recent years," Black said.

“And this trend looks set to continue. There is little doubt that the animal welfare and sustainability standards achieved on farms in this part of the world are significantly higher than is the case in places like Brazil and southeast Asia.”

Referring specifically to the production of laboratory cultured meats, Clive Black questioned the sustainability of the soya farming methods that underpin these systems.

But it’s not all good news for the UK’s food processing and retail sector.

Black said: “The recent decision taken by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to increase employers’ national insurance contributions and other revenue-related changes from the beginning of April will have a disastrous impact on the food processing and retail sector.

“Both are low-margin industries. There is little doubt that the significant increase in costs to be incurred by the businesses involved will fuel food inflation.

“Developments of this nature may well sound the death knell for many small restaurants and food catering outlets,” he concluded.