Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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9. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the recent figures released by the Environmental Protection Agency, which indicate that Ireland's agriculture emissions increased by 1.5% in 2015, largely due to a 7.7% increase in dairy cow numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37567/16]

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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This is a different perspective on the beef industry. Red meat is one of the most unsustainable sources of protein on earth and the Government's policy seems to ignore that. Increased consumption of red meat is a threat to global food security and according to the peer-reviewed journal, Science, at least 4 billion people could be fed with the crops we currently devote to fattening livestock. The production of a single kilogram of beef is equal to 24 kg of wheat in terms of effort, water, fertiliser, greenhouse gases and cropland needed that goes into its production. Is there any long-term plans to help farmers move towards a more sustainable position in terms of food production?

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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There will always be a demand for protein and the Deputy's bias against red meat-----

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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I love red meat.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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That is not reflected either in the Deputy's introduction to this question or the previous questions he has asked of my Department.

The recent figures that the Deputy refers to are provisional greenhouse gas emissions figures for 2015. Although they indicate a 1.5% increase in agriculture emissions, these figures include an additional category of emissions that were not included in previous inventories. The figures indicate an increase in dairy cows but they also demonstrate a decrease in other cattle, and this is in line with expectations where it is envisaged there will be reorientation of the national herd towards dairy. It is also worth noting that milk production increased 13.2%, which indicates a decrease in emissions intensity of production. This reflects national plans to expand milk production under Food Wise 2025 following the removal of milk quotas in 2015.

Any increase in emissions is a concern but I point out that Irish agriculture has made significant progress in improving efficiency. We have been driving down emissions intensity and in 2013 the emissions intensity per calorie of food output reduced by approximately 14% relative to 2005 and overall absolute emissions remain 2.7% below 2005 levels. We have introduced a range of measures in our rural development plan to make Irish farming even more environmentally sustainable.

We will continue our efforts to ensure the sector can grow, prosper and meet the increasing world demand for food in a sustainable manner. I am committed to maintaining our ambition to move towards carbon neutrality in the agriculture and land use sector, including forestry, which does not compromise capacity for sustainable food production.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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The Minister's argument ignores the fact that rearing cattle for beef is, in itself, a destructive practice. It is like arguing we should burn coal, peat or oil in an efficient way while ignoring the fact that we must stop burning fossil fuels if we are interested in protecting the environment. Research from Bard College in New York indicates that beef's environmental impact dwarfs that of other meat, including chicken and pork. It uses 28 times more land and 11 times more water than those other meats. Increases in meat consumption in rich countries in recent decades has led to spikes in the price of grain used for animal feed, as well as leading to widespread deforestation and pressure on agricultural land. It has also contributed to the obesity epidemic.

The Minister's claim that we can produce beef more sustainably than other countries is true but the fact remains that we are heading in the wrong direction. The production of beef is more strongly linked to emissions than anything else in the agricultural sector. We seem to be going off a cliff at this stage. The Minister has indicated we are increasing the dairy herd and reducing the beef stock but there would be no milk without calves. Is it not true that we are bound to have more calves if we are to have more milk?

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The logic of the Deputy's position is that we should dismantle what is among the most carbon-efficient producers of food, be it in dairy or beef. He is saying we should dismantle our system in favour of substituting our industry with imports with a far higher carbon footprint per unit of production. As sure as night follows day, if we dismantled our beef or dairy industry, it would not change the dietary habits of the population and we would then have to import food produced at a far higher carbon footprint. The global population is predicted to grow substantially and the challenge is to feed those people in the most carbon-efficient fashion possible. Per unit of dairy production, we are perhaps the most efficient globally and in the European Union, we are the fifth most efficient producer of beef. Could we do more or should we do more? Certainly, and that is why we have programmes like beef data and genomics, which address matters of food conversion, herd fertility and other elements to reduce our carbon footprint. On the other hand the green low carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS, is also about reducing our carbon footprint. We have been very innovative in the area, including with the likes of the carbon navigator. We are doing all the right things. Although we will need to do more, it is disrespectful to the industry to undermine it in such a public fashion when it has shown a commitment to addressing the issue in real and practical ways.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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I have never suggested we dismantle the industry but I am saying we should manage it a little better. It is a great industry and I am not saying otherwise. We are nonetheless heading in a direction where, currently, we are probably overproducing. I can guarantee the Minister that the beef price will be lower this time next year because of increasing numbers.

An Taisce stated recently that the increases in beef and dairy volume and exports are undercutting food security and promoting overconsumption both in the European Union and international markets, where increased overconsumption has and will continue to intensify climate change. It argues that unless the agricultural sector makes significant strides to change the direction of its actions, the agrifood industry in Ireland will continue down a path of unsustainability to meet short-term economic gains at the cost of long-term issues like environmental degradation, climate change and the continuation of the negative cycle of poor food security. I do not for one minute underestimate the role of agriculture in Ireland, how good are our farmers or the quality of food we produce. Nevertheless, we are ignoring the elephant in the room and if we go in this direction, we will not address the challenges of climate change in Ireland.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy wants us all eating muesli or tofu. We must reward the people who are the most carbon-efficient producers of food. The Deputy must accept we cannot be prescriptive about people's dietary habits. If people want to eat red meat, they should have it from the most carbon-efficient producers of red meat.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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The Minister's colleague, the Minister for Health, may have a different view.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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They should have dairy produce from the most carbon-efficient producers of dairy products. As the Deputy points the finger at Irish agriculture, the alternative is that in undermining its credentials from a sustainability perspective - we should remember it is a grass-based production system, which is the most sustainable type - he undermines the commitment to doing more by arguing that Irish agriculture is not up to meeting the challenges. We have done much and we recognise we must do more. Equally, we would like some acknowledgement for the steps taken so far.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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The Minister is ignoring my points.