In an interview with Rural Press during the climate change negotiations, president of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers, Ajay Vashee, said he feared there would be a lot of trade-offs and compromises as leaders started arriving in Copenhagen.

He said with agriculture being a tough area to deal with, leaders could brush over it or even leave it out of a deal as they endeavour to agree to at least some sort of final deal.

He said while he hoped something positive came from the fortnight's negotiations, especially in the recognition of agriculture, he was unsure what level of ambition the deal would take.

Mr Vashee said it was hard to say yet whether there would be a change in the international accounting rules for agricultural land use.

"It's so fluid, it's changing from morning to afternoon," Mr Vashee said.

"When we think we have some convergence, then you find suddenly there's a bit of a change.

"Then we have a suspension, then we start all over again.

"What we're hoping to see is an inclusion of agriculture.

"What is important is we want the sustainability at one end but at the same time we also want to ensure that whatever figures are being crunched out are attainable, and we can do them, and there are specific incentives and investments to do that."

Mr Vashee said without the right incentives and framework for investment there would be a "marked reduction in food production".