Dr. Catherine Farrell:

The Chairman has asked me the most difficult question of all. This is an area that is still evolving. The science is telling us that draining peat soils for agriculture leads to emissions in carbon dioxide and also nitrous oxide. There are some new initiatives. New European Innovation Partnership, EIP, projects are looking at addressing this issue.

The most recent cutting-edge project is the FarmPEAT project, which is being led by the same team who set up the pearl mussel project. This is an evolving and probably very sensitive space. These are brand new innovations to try to reduce emissions from these areas and they require a sea change in the approach of farmers. We have to try out this approach, set up different trials to see what we can do and what savings can be made through raising the water level. We are not on our own because this has been trialled in other countries. Those trials are probably the best examples we can draw on. The case scenarios are learnings from Germany, which is trying to promote raising the water level in drained peatlands and implement what are called wet farming practices. It is a matter of trying to find ways we can farm these areas in a manner that farmers would not lose income, could continue to farm these areas, albeit in a more sustainable way, and would not be penalised. It is about incentivising that.

This is very much an evolving space that requires real engagement with farmers. In my experience, such engagement is key as farmers will tell us what will work on their land. Just as every bog is different, every field is also different. It must be based on real trials on the ground and learning from our colleagues in Germany and the Netherlands who are also faced with these issues and high levels of emissions. I hope that answers the Chairman's question.