The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) is calling for greater priority to be given to locally produced food in public procurement, arguing that school meals, hospital catering and public-sector kitchens can help strengthen Northern Ireland’s domestic food supply chain.

The call, reported by the Fermanagh Herald, follows debate around the sourcing of chicken for school meals. Rather than focusing on individual dietary or certification requirements, UFU deputy president Glenn Cuddy said the wider procurement question should be how government and public bodies can increase opportunities for local farmers and food producers.

Founded in 1918, the Ulster Farmers’ Union is Northern Ireland’s largest democratic voluntary organisation representing farmers and growers, with more than 11,500 members. Its role includes lobbying on agricultural policy and promoting a sustainable rural economy.

For public procurement teams, the argument moves the discussion beyond price and individual product specifications towards the wider value generated by sourcing decisions. UFU says local producers bring established credentials around food quality, animal welfare, traceability and sustainability, while public contracts can provide more stable routes to market.

The opportunity is particularly relevant across education, healthcare and facilities management, where catering represents a recurring procurement requirement. Greater recognition of provenance and local supply capacity could help public bodies support regional producers while also improving visibility across food supply chains.

UFU also links local procurement with food security and supply-chain resilience. Its position is that public spending should, where practical, deliver benefits beyond the immediate transaction by supporting farming families, rural economies and domestic production capacity.

The approach does not necessarily mean abandoning competitive procurement. Instead, it raises the question of how specifications, evaluation criteria, supplier engagement and contract structures can enable capable local businesses to compete effectively while maintaining value, quality and compliance.

For the sector, public procurement is increasingly being viewed as a strategic tool rather than simply a purchasing function. For Northern Ireland’s public sector, local food sourcing offers an opportunity to connect procurement spend with supply resilience, economic development and long-term food security.

Source: Fermanagh Herald / Ulster Farmers’ Union