Muck, brass and smoke: Policy post-exceptionalism in the agri-food sector

Abstract

Governance is well recognized as shifting boundaries of responsibilities for doing things among key partners. What is less clear is how exactly power relations are altered and where power is concentrated as new forms of governance emerge. In our article we use the concept of policy post-exceptionalism to critically assess ‘Going for Growth’, a strategic action plan that, until the recent past, underpinned the Northern Ireland agri-food industry. The agri-food sector has an important and prominent role in the Northern Ireland economy. The Going for Growth strategy illustrates how particular interests within the sector are supported by government, as demonstrated through the Renewable Heat Initiative and a scheme promoting anaerobic digestors. Using policy post-exceptionalism to scrutinize the strategy, our research shows what can go wrong when a transition to post-exceptionalism occurs. While Going for Growth purported to represent the wider interests that one might expect to find in a post-exceptionalist approach to agri-food governance, in fact the concentration of power with corporate actors left little space for the inclusion of wider interests. We conclude that this strategy represented a move towards tense post-exceptionalism, creating at least one political scandal, raising questions of legitimacy and transparency and fundamentally undermining political viability of wider government. It is an extreme case of what can happen when post-exceptionalist policymaking goes wrong.

Agricultural Pollution and Waterways on the Island of Ireland: Towards Effective Policy Solutions

“…A total of 55 individuals were interviewed across Ireland and Northern Ireland. Interviewees included farmers (2); agri-food industry representatives (6); farmers union representatives (3); central government employees (e.g., representatives of agriculture or environment departments/agencies) (10); other government agency employees (e.g., research institutes, local councils) (16); employees and volunteers at non-governmental environmental organisations (eNGOs) (10); academics (6); and journalists (2). A focus group was also held with 9 farmers.…”

“…In Ireland and Northern Ireland (NI), the agriculture industry has historically received considerably more support and attention than many other industries, as per an exceptionalist policy approach [1,2]. In many ways, this is still the case.…”

“…In many ways, this is still the case. It continues to benefit from a range of public subsidies, such as Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) direct payments, renewable energy incentives and rural support aimed mainly at agriculture [2,3]. This support often comes at the expense of the island's waterways and wider natural environment [4][5][6][7].…”

Political parties' framing of farm animal welfare: A fragmented picture

“…It is a case of “the new politics of agriculture and food” (Daugbjerg & Swinbank, 2012) marked both by conflicting economic interests as well as values. Extensive research on agricultural policy in political science has recently revolved around the concept of agricultural exceptionalism (Attorp & McAreavey, 2020; Grant, 2012; Greer, 2017; Skogstad, 1998). Some scholars have argued that exceptionalism is being replaced by post‐exceptionalism , as agriculture is being linked to new policy areas (Attorp & McAreavey, 2020; Daugbjerg & Feindt, 2017; Vogeler, 2019a).…”

“…Extensive research on agricultural policy in political science has recently revolved around the concept of agricultural exceptionalism (Attorp & McAreavey, 2020; Grant, 2012; Greer, 2017; Skogstad, 1998). Some scholars have argued that exceptionalism is being replaced by post‐exceptionalism , as agriculture is being linked to new policy areas (Attorp & McAreavey, 2020; Daugbjerg & Feindt, 2017; Vogeler, 2019a). Greer (2017), by contrast, has averred that post‐exceptionalism is an inaccurate term and has instead proposed shallow post‐exceptionalism , primarily because agricultural policies in many countries still focus on maintaining or increasing farmers' incomes via policy instruments, not market solutions.…”