The Manx National Farmers’ Union is once again urging candidates standing in the General Election to back the island’s farming industry and help strengthen local food production.

The union is holding a presentation for election candidates tonight (Thursday), following meetings with candidates throughout the summer.

It comes after the MNFU launched its election manifesto earlier this year, calling on politicians to engage with farmers and better understand the pressures facing the sector.

The organisation says farming is a cornerstone of the Isle of Man’s economy, landscape and culture, but has faced significant challenges over the past 15 years, including reduced market opportunities, price pressures, trade disruption and changing policies.

The union says the number of farm holdings has fallen by 25% since 2016, while local produce accounts for just 6% of food retail sales on the island.

Ahead of tonight’s event, the MNFU said it wanted to highlight both the challenges facing farmers and the benefits of producing food locally.

It said: ‘We don’t do large scale industrial factory farming here.

‘Our stock live outdoors most of the year, when they are in it’s to keep them sheltered and fed, we have low disease, very high animal welfare standards, dairy is rigorously tested, our flour is additive free, our eggs are all genuine free range, and farmers work to exceptionally high environmental standards.’

The union also highlighted the role farmers play in protecting the island’s countryside, including its traditional hedgerows, which it said create a nature network stretching for more than 5,000km.

It questioned whether more should be done to protect the island’s agricultural and environmental assets in an ‘unstable world’.

The MNFU’s manifesto calls for targeted funding for active farmers, improved access to local and UK markets, support for exports and measures to increase local food consumption to at least 25% within five years.

It is also calling for Government procurement policies to prioritise Manx produce and continued alignment with UK regulations to support trade.

The union will host a Manx feast following tonight’s presentation, with support from local businesses and organisations.