To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what recent assessment his Department has made on the use of mineral fertilisers in reducing input costs.

Total deliveries of fertiliser in 2022 reduced by 35% compared with the first half of 2021. However, it is too early to detect a long-term trend as quarterly deliveries have shown volatility in the past. A decline in use was expected in the short term given that fertiliser prices have increased by around 150% in the first six months of 2022 versus the same period in 2021. These price shocks are outside the control of the Department and farmers, and consequently it becomes more important that fertiliser is used as efficiently as possible in combination with other nutrients.

The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), under direction from the Rising Cost Taskforce, has established a task and finish group to scope out relevant knowledge transfer relating to nutrient use efficiency topics and delivery methods for early spring 2023. The membership of this group is from CAFRE, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, NI Grain Trade Association, Agri-Search and Ulster Farmers’ Union.