Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Teagasc has an important role to play and it is playing it. One of the key tools that will be very helpful to farmers is the launch of the AgNav online application which enables farmers to be clear on the numbers for their own farms, to see how that is evolving and to suggest steps to them which can reduce their emissions and measure that as they go. People have to know where they are at to be able to improve. This will help to give farmers that clarity.

We have seen significant progress. The Deputy referred to the 30% reduction in the use of chemical fertiliser, which is phenomenal progress and we are holding that progress to a significant degree. The Deputy is right that, as we saw with moving away from cash to increased tap-and-go in how we paid for things during Covid, the increase in fertiliser costs due to the Ukraine war and the impact on supply chains have accelerated a change and an adaptation which was already under way at farm level. It has been held to a significant degree because it is underpinned by changing farm practice. I expect us to continue the progress we have been making in reducing the use of chemical fertiliser.

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