Northern Ireland’s food and drink sector generates £7.3 billion in economic value, according to a new report.
The Economic Impact Assessment also showed that the sector supports almost 109,000 jobs, and plays a vital role in food security across the UK and Ireland.
The report was commissioned by the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) and delivered by EY, with the aim of highlighting the sector’s role in driving regional economic growth, sustaining rural communities, and strengthening food security and resilience across these islands.
Northern Ireland food and drink in 2024 generated added value equivalent to £3,791 per person, with strong multiplier effects across supply chains, services, and local rural economies, according to the report.
The sector extends employment beyond direct manufacturing and farming roles by underpinning economic activity in logistics, engineering, utilities, and professional services and also anchoring jobs in rural and semi‑rural communities.
Michael Bell, executive director of NIFDA, said: “This independent report gives us an up-to-date picture of the role food and drink is playing for the economy and our society.
“Food and drink delivers billions in economic value, supports tens of thousands of jobs across the supply chain, and plays a unique role in sustaining balanced regional growth.
“Our industry is feeding the local economy every day, in every part of Northern Ireland.”
‘Strategically important’
Despite accounting for less than 3% of the UK population, Northern Ireland produces around 8% of total UK food output by volume and more than 10% by value, according to the report
The local industry has “particular expertise in high‑value, protein‑rich foods that are central to everyday consumption”, it said.
The report also noted that Northern Ireland supplies around one‑fifth of UK egg production and approximately one‑sixth of UK dairy, beef, and poultry output.
Bell said: “These are precisely the areas where strong domestic production is most critical to reducing import reliance, moderating exposure to global supply shocks, and safeguarding affordability for consumers.”
Robbie Butler, chair of the NI Assembly’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, who launched the report at Stormont, said the report underlines the strategic importance of Northern Ireland’s food and drink sector “not just to our own economy, but to secure food supply across the UK and Republic of Ireland”.
He added: “At a time of global uncertainty, strong indigenous food and drink production matters more than ever, and we as politicians have a responsibility to ensure the policy environment supports a sector so central to jobs, growth, resilience and food security.”
Sustainability
The report also examines the role of the sector in meeting sustainability goals.
It found that while agriculture accounts for a significant share of emissions in Northern Ireland, productivity‑led, sustainability‑linked investment can deliver economic growth and emissions reductions together.
Meanwhile, prolonged cost pressure and delayed investment risk eroding value and resilience over time, the report said.
Simon MacAllister, partner at EY, said: “Northern Ireland’s food and drink sector is central to the local economy, underpinning jobs, investment, regional balance and resilience well beyond its own footprint.
“Our analysis finds that the sector’s future will be shaped less by volume growth and more by productivity, cost resilience and sustained investment across the value chain.
“The central challenge is not ambition, but delivery and coordinated planning, regulatory and infrastructure processes are essential to unlock the investment needed to secure long term growth, resilience and environmental improvement.”
NIFDA has called on government to work in partnership with industry to enable investment, improve planning predictability, and ensure policy frameworks support economic growth alongside environmental outcomes.
Micheal Bell said: “Our industry is committed to sustainability and innovation, but businesses need confidence to invest.
“That means stable policy signals, joined‑up decision‑making and planning processes that recognise the system‑wide benefits of investment.
“If we want to secure food supply, protect jobs and improve environmental performance, we have to enable economic growth.”