Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 118: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his views on the threat to the staple fruit and vegetable crops here due to climate change which will cause major changes in farming practices; his plans to plan for future food shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19638/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today. The focus in Ireland is on mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and there is ongoing analysis of the potential impacts of climate change, especially in relation to agriculture. The available information from regional climate models indicates that there will be impacts on the Irish climate. However, these are European-scale or world-scale models and give indicative information only for Ireland. The indications are that both summers and winters will be warmer, which would improve growing conditions for many crops in Ireland, especially fruit and vegetable crops.

We cannot be as certain at this stage about how rainfall will be affected by climate change. Ongoing work to refine regional climate models will give a clearer picture of the likely impacts on Irish climate and will provide better information on parameters that are important to farmers and the agricultural industry. In addition, Teagasc monitors crops for changes that may be induced by changing climate, such as changing patterns of pests or crop diseases. There is however, no justification for the suggestion that Ireland is facing food shortages caused by climate change.

At global level, there is increasing awareness that food security cannot be taken for granted in a world where demand is rising rapidly and is expected to double over the next fifty years. The projected increase in world population over the next 20 years presents a major challenge to the world and the agricultural industry to feed this growing number of people. Ireland has an important role to play in meeting this demand, as a supplier of food that is produced in a sustainable manner. The objective must be that all production from agricultural sources is sustainable and in this context it is important that policy at EU level in terms of curbing greenhouse gas emissions does not, by default, cause production to relocate to less sustainable systems outside the EU.