Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 59:

In page 11, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following:"(c) the need to further develop the tillage sector and mixed farming, in particular crops that have the potential to act as significant carbon sinks;".

It is important that we consider the agriculture sector. There are ambitious targets to be met in Harvest 2020, which the agriculture sector has gone a long way towards meeting. The issue that will arise will be that of trying to meet the capacity and keeping within our greenhouse gas emission limits in terms of our international obligations and whatever national obligations we set out.

There is great pressure to increase output. We must be careful how we manage this because if we do not do it the right way, the Government of the day, whatever its composition will be, will have to buy carbon credits to offset any overrun of greenhouse gas emissions if we do not take remedial measures and if we do not diversify. We have very strong beef and dairy sectors and they must be protected and improved. The jobs being created in those sectors are very welcome, particularly the new jobs in the food industry. That is all positive, as is the increase in our exports in that sector. However, there are limits in terms of market demands. Without going into this in great depth, we know from what has happened in America that beef exports have not been the silver bullet that people thought they would be. The beef and dairy sectors have their limits.

Twelve months ago the European Commissioner, Phil Hogan, called for a significant increase in dairy output, that there would be no fear of it distorting the market for dairy produce. Many farmers might disagree with that now, with those markets which they are serving showing a downward pull on prices.

We need to look at other areas in farming where we can produce. We also need to look at those sectors in which we are importing a substantial amount of food produce which could be produced here. The beet sector is one. The indigenous sugar beet industry was closed in 2006. The plan then was to build apartments on the sugar factory site in Carlow on the banks of the River Barrow. The only building on it now is the tower from the old beet plant with the thistles and buachaláns growing around it.

This amendment addresses the need to diversify into more mixed farming. In some ways, it is going back to the future. We used to be a significant sugar beet growing country, a position to which we need to go back. In the context of this Bill, sugar beet is important because it can act as a break crop, as well as a good cover crop in acting as a carbon sink. Those of us who have ever worked in a beet field will know it is a broad-leafed plant for several months, meaning it is a good covering crop and excellent as a carbon sink. It does not emit greenhouse gas whereas cattle do.

We need to be looking more at developing the tillage sector and root crops, such as sugar beet. Research and practice on the Continent shows sugar beet can be used not just in sugar but also in bioethanol production, proving it is a viable industry. This State imports about €400 million sugar products every year, a substantial amount of money going out of the State, affecting the balance of payments.

This is an opportunity to look more seriously at this area. The Minister will be aware of attempts to restart the indigenous sugar industry. We must try to have a plant operating the whole year around. This is a win-win. It does not generate greenhouse gas emissions. Sugar beet is a good cash crop and, for several months of the year, it is a valuable carbon sink crop as it is a broad-leafed covering crop. From June, a good beet field would be completely covered in green right up to when the beet is pulled in October. I have often seen it left in the ground as late as December. It is important we look at that and diversify. I tabled this amendment to further develop the tillage sector, mixed farming and particularly crops that can act as carbon sinks. It makes sense from an environmental, a financial and a social point of view.

Week in, week out, we talk about rural development and developing local economies. The loss of the sugar beet industry had a significant impact on the midlands and the south east. One can blame the previous Government for that and get into the blame game but tomorrow is the first day of the future. Greencore wound up with the bulk of the compensation package for the closure of the sugar factories while farmers got some of it. The former workers and contractors did not get a whole lot, however. I remember being at meetings when the sugar factory was closed and it was like being at a funeral. Farmers were annoyed. Beet is a good sustainable cash crop and very good for crop rotation. Now, farmers are growing other break crops for grain and barley but these are not good cash crops. Farmers and experts will maintain beet is good for the ground in giving back nutrients to the soil. This makes sense from an environmental, economic and social point of view, as well as importantly getting money into our local economies and keeping people working locally. I implore the Minister of State to accept this amendment in the spirit it has been put forward.

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