The agreement of a trade deal between the EU and Mercosur is confirmation of the hypocrisy farmers will be subject to on climate change, according to Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) president Colm O’Donnell.

He said the deal will accelerate the destruction of rainforests at the same time Irish farmers were being told to plant more trees.

O’Donnell said the deal proved that big industry would trump the environment, farmers and rural communities in a U-turn on the EU line that these must be protected.

He said the deal would undermine EU standards on food safety, as the true origin of the beef could not be guaranteed.

Devastating

“For our suckler and beef farmers, this deal will have long-reaching and devastating effects that will extend to other farming sectors and the wider rural communities.

"For this reason, it is vital that our Government and all elected public representatives do everything they can to undermine this deal.”

He called on farmers to contact their public representatives, especially MEPs, to impress upon them the need to act in their interests not those of German car manufacturers.