Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for his kind remarks. I thank all the Members for this very constructive debate. It has been very informative. I have enjoyed the engagement and it has been very productive. The tone of this debate is important and it is the tone we need to adopt to ensure we make the real progress that must be made in reducing emissions, ensuring the sustainability of the food produced in our agricultural system, supporting farmers to improve their incomes and continuing the extremely important and world-leading work they do in producing healthy, nutritious, safe and sustainable food.

Senator Pauline O'Reilly stated that nobody should be pointing the finger at or seeking to blame farmers. That is a really important starting point. We cannot say that often enough. There is no doubt we have learned a great deal. if we reflect back to ten years ago, I bet there were no debates in this Chamber on the issues of climate change, global warming or emissions. Certainly, 20 or 30 years ago we did not have the same level of knowledge or understanding of the importance of our emissions profile, of how we conduct our daily lives, the actions we take and how we live with respect to the environment and the world around us or in the way we interact with our environment in terms of its importance to biodiversity. However, we have learned a great deal and we need to respond to that. We have also learned about the challenge we face not only as a nation but as a world and as citizens of Earth in collectively taking serious steps to reduce emissions and tackle global worming. That comes down to each of us individually, each sector of the economy and each industry, business and compartment of our national life. Importantly, that also applies to agriculture, particularly given that it is such a significant part of our national emissions profile. This is not because of anything specific to agriculture, although it can be very much tied to the fact we have a climate that is very conducive to good agriculture production. However, the main reason is that we do not have the same industrial sector as other developed countries, which means our agricultural profile makes up a higher proportion of our overall emissions. That sets us apart from many other European and developed countries, with New Zealand being the only country with which we are comparable in the percentage of the overall emissions profile that agriculture makes up. Naturally, in examining how we can reduce our emissions profile nationally, there will be significant discussion on agriculture, as well as other aspects of the economy, but agriculture will naturally comprise a big part of that discussion. Farmers and all those engaged in the food sector are willing to play their part. As a number of representatives and Senators have said today, no one more than farmers wants to ensure that the way they produce food and interact with the environment is in sync with the environment, promotes biodiversity and keeps emissions to a minimum. Also, central to that is animal welfare. Farmers are stepping up to the mark in that respect and have already contributed a significant amount.

In terms of how we move forward, it is important we all work together, that we co-operate regarding the plans we have put in place, that we listen, engage and educate one another, and that we put in place plans for how we go forward and make progress. That has been the approach the Government has taken. We have made massive strides in putting in place plans which will make a difference. The next challenge is to step forward with those and see results in the reduction in emissions from agriculture and right across the economy in the time ahead. If we reflect back to the 1960s or 1970s almost all Irish agriculture was organic and it was following that time chemical fertiliser became a tool. However, we have tools at our disposal that our forefathers, grandfathers and my father when he was a young did not have in terms of soil fertility and testing.There were more multi-species around then because it was there in the soil. Clover was really important. We have a good understanding of all of those things now and tools we did not necessarily have then. We are now seeing how farmers are adopting the different tools at their disposal.

There is significant emerging science, particularly regarding methane. Through Teagasc, we have invested in studies looking at how emerging science around feed additives can be applied at national level. There is significant potential in that respect. Studies are also looking at breeding. We have seen the progress made in the productivity of cows over the past two decades through genetic evaluation and the economic breeding index. That is applied to milk. Different animals have different emissions profiles with regard to methane. How do we programme that into genetic breeding and how do we go about making our breeding decisions to factor that to create lots of potential. The key point is that we must make our contribution to lowering the emissions profile.

That will also enhance the value of the food we produce because it will make it even more attractive to the people to whom we are selling it. Our markets across the world, which are widespread and cross the globe, have been built on the back of our sustainability credentials and the fact that we are a pasture, grass-based food-producing nation that is viewed as one of the most sustainable food producers in the world. The way we will maintain those markets is by becoming even more sustainable and verifying and showing that. The way we will add value and maximise profit for farmers and the food they produce is by becoming more sustainable and reducing the emissions footprint because it will ensure we continue to be a number one choice whenever consumers in Ireland or any other country go to consume food. That is the way we maximise the profits at farm level and add value to that.

We could all look to add more volume and see the value and margins reduce. The key issue is adding value to what we produce in the time ahead. The Food Vision 2030 strategy, which I published at the end of the summer, very much speaks to that sustainable food systems approach to our food production system. In taking that approach, Food Vision 2030 outlines how we can grow the value of our exports from €14 billion today to €21 billion by the end of the decade through taking that approach. That is very much the direction we need to travel and is complemented by the climate action plan. The targets in that plan are ambitious but deliverable. They will stretch us but we must all stretch ourselves. Every sector has to stretch itself.

The lower emissions target we received in agriculture is a reflection of the understanding, which was outlined in the programme for Government, that the Government needs to take into account the particular science around agriculture, its emissions profile and the economic and social importance of the sector. I believe the emissions target we have put in place is an appropriate one that respects that but will also challenge us. The challenge is to deliver on that in the time ahead.

Senator Dolan spoke about the need for hope in agriculture and to ensure there is a strong future for it. I concur with that. Senators Murphy, Lombard, Mullen and Maria Byrne spoke to this as well. There is a very strong future for our agriculture sector. People respect food more than they ever did. They respect how it is produced and its sustainability credentials. They are increasingly conscious of what they put into their bodies and will want to be assured not just that it is safe and nutritious but that it is sustainable. That is going to be very important for us to keep our place on their plates.

I see Ireland building on the tremendous starting point we have because we will deepen the credentials we have, add value to them in the process and continue to be a food-producing nation that is respected, valued and sought after across the world. In doing so, we will ensure that the place of the primary producers in the food system is strengthened in the process and maintain a strong agriculture sector in the time ahead. I thank Members for the spirit in which this debate was held and look forward to us going forward together in the same manner, making real progress, strengthening our sector and making it more sustainable in the process.