Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

321. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the research that has taken place or is taking place regarding the carbon sequestration capabilities of farms here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1362/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Scientific research has a central role to play in developing our understanding of the carbon sequestration potential of our natural land resources. To this end, my Department recognises the important role that the land use sector plays in mitigating greenhouse gases and is strongly committed to providing funding for targeted research in the area of carbon sequestration. Since 2010, my Department has provided more than €4.9 million towards on-going research into the carbon sequestration potential of agricultural and forest lands. A list of these projects, and completed projects, is provided in Appendix.The beneficiaries of research awards – including Teagasc and Irish Third Level institutions – are examining the effects of differing agricultural and silvicultural practices on soil organic carbon stocks. In addition, other projects are examining the effects of land use change and tillage management on carbon sink activity.

One of the larger projects my Department has funded is ‘Gaseous Emissions and Land Use Network – GHG Ireland’. This network aims to bring together, in a four year initiative, all principal investigators working in the field of agricultural climate change research. The main focus of the network is to improve our understanding of carbon stock changes in agricultural soils so that we can contribute to the development of a more robust inventory, and underpin future accounting for these categories. My Department has also funded a project on the management of soil organic carbon in Irish agricultural systems.

In addition, my Department has funded a number of research projects under the CARBiFOR (Carbon Sequestration in Irish Forest Ecosystems) programme in order to improve the estimation and reporting of carbon sequestration in forests in Ireland, including farm forests. Currently this work is being funded by the Department under the CForRep project, which is coordinated by University College Dublin and also involves The University of Limerick and University College Cork. Further details of the project can be found at Appendix: