The president of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA) said that the EU Commission "Vision for Agriculture and Food" is an important step in shaping the future of farming in the EU.

However, Sean McNamara said that delivering on the agricultural ambitions outlined in the document published yesterday (Wednesday, February 19) requires substantial investment.

He added that a lack of a "clear signal" on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget is "deeply concerning".

The ICSA president noted that the commission’s recognition that farming must remain an attractive and viable livelihood is encouraging.

"Ensuring fair incomes for farmers, tackling unfair trading practices, and committing to a strong generational renewal strategy are all positive moves.

"But these ambitions must be followed through with robust policies and financial commitments. Otherwise, they will amount to nothing more than empty words," he said.

McNamara said that it was welcome that the commission intends to take "concrete action" to ensure farmers are not forced to sell their produce below the cost of production, including a review of the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Directive.

"However, this review must lead to real, enforceable protections for primary producers. We need to see meaningful penalties for large retailers and processors that engage in exploitative practices," he said.

The EU Commission has also committed to reinforcing the long-term future of the EU livestock sector.

"The promise of a long-term vision for the sector is positive, but we also need guarantees that our ability to export live animals will not be restricted," McNamara said.

The ICSA strongly supports the commission’s move to align production standards for imported products with those required of EU farmers.

“It is entirely unacceptable that European farmers are forced to comply with stringent regulations while being undercut by cheaper imports produced to lower standards.

"However, this does not address the hypocritical nature of their support for the Mercosur trade deal, which we in ICSA will continue to oppose," McNamara said.

Although the Vision for Agriculture and Food outlines commitments to simplification and reduced bureaucracy, the ICSA president remains sceptical.

“We have heard promises of less red tape before, yet farmers continue to be burdened with excessive paperwork and complex compliance requirements.

"Any proposed simplification package must deliver tangible improvements for farmers on the ground," he said.

McNamara welcomed the mention of the need for targeted financial support for small and medium-sized farmers, particularly those in areas with natural constraints.

“The commission acknowledges the unique challenges faced by these farmers, but recognition alone is not enough.

"We need direct financial supports that enable them to continue producing high-quality food while meeting environmental goals," he said.

The ICSA president added that the EU Commission must also commit to a "substantial increase in the CAP budget".

"If the EU is serious about protecting its farmers and securing the future of agriculture and food production, it must make a firm financial commitment to back its ambitions," he said.