Ian Marshall (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming before the House to present to us on this interesting topic. The work of the Oireachtas joint committee on climate change and the environment is certainly worthwhile, but there are grave concerns that sometimes the proportion of blame attributed in the work to agriculture and transport is perhaps unfair.

I refer the House to a piece of work published this week and written by Tassos Haniotis, director of strategy, simplification and policy analysis in the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission. It is a very interesting piece and I would recommend it to anyone. Its title is Beef, Climate Change and a Slice of Common Sense. In the article, reference is made to the fact that beef production and farming have a big role to play in greenhouse gas emissions, and that is accepted, but he argues we need to look at the big picture and put the basic facts into perspective. There is a reference in the article to the crisis we had a decade ago with biofuels, the fact that food shortages and food prices were a major concern and that the market was heating up.The initial reaction to that crisis was to ban all biofuels as it was thought at the time that doing so would correct the imbalance. That turned out not to be the case.

Considering where we are at the moment with the food issue, markets for food and sustainability of farm businesses, we need to look back, as is suggested in the piece, to the beginning of time when man had requirement for food, shelter, clothing, movement and energy. We have used innovation and technology to deliver on all of these things. We have become better, more productive, more efficient farmers as time has passed. Now we are faced with what is known as sustainability. The reality is that there are no quick fixes for sustainability. Sustainability and changing direction will be about changing behaviour. It will be about slowing down and turning around. I would like to share a quotation from the piece. Mr. Haniotis states that a little done by many will be of greater benefit than a lot done by a few. We need to be careful to ensure everyone has responsibility in this discussion. If we talk about climate change and the environment specifically with regard to agriculture, we also need to be cognisant of the role of people who live in Dublin, London and other cities and urban areas around the world.

The Minister's opening comment is most important. It is vital to reinstate the long-term policy because climate change and the environment are long-term policy decisions. We need an approach to carbon neutrality which does not compromise the capacity for sustainable food production. That strapline is the mantra we must cling to. Primary production in agriculture is under immense pressure. The industry does not have the capacity to absorb much more financial pressure. We need to create a sustainable environment where young people will be encouraged to come home to work the land, farm and produce food. Too often it is too easy to separate the discussions we have on agriculture and food production from food consumption.