Written answers

Tuesday, 31 March 2015

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Agricultural Production

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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346. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that adequate steps will be taken to ensure the development of the agrifood sector, notwithstanding impositions in respect of carbon emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13353/15]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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347. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects various aspects of the beef and dairy industry to be affected by carbon reduction requirements; if this is likely to impede the achievement of targets in respect of production and output; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13354/15]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 346 and 347 together.

Irish agricultural production is already independently and internationally recognised as one of the most climate and resource efficient systems in the EU and the world. The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre has found that Irish dairy production has the lowest Carbon-intensity, with Austria, in the EU.

The potential impact of the increased production envisaged in Food Harvest 2020 on the environment was considered to be slightly negative overall in the Food Harvest 2020 Environmental Report (published in January 2014). A number of recommendations were made in the report that would mitigate any such impacts, and these are informing policy development. In order to ensure sustainability in production, significant investment is being targeted to address potential negative impacts. Measures include:

- research aimed at developing and refining best practices

- investment through the Rural Development Programme and

- the identification and confirmation of sustainability credentials for Irish agricultural production.

Early analysis suggests that further efficiency improvements are possible such as the more efficient use of fertiliser and manure, grassland management, improved breeding and better fertility. Essential ongoing research into new technologies is being undertaken to maintain our economic and environmental competitive advantages. The level of emissions from agriculture has been steadily decreasing in recent years and my Department will continue to work with state and industry stakeholders so as seek even greater future efficiencies in a sustainable Irish agriculture sector.

Ireland has engaged in intensive discussions with the European Commission in recent years to highlight the importance of ensuring a coherent approach to the twin challenges of food security and the greatly increasing global demand for food in the coming decades with EU climate ambition.

The extent of the challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in line with our EU commitments, is well understood by Government, as reflected in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015. While there will be a significant compliance challenge in the years 2017-2020, the development of an Agricultural Sectoral Roadmap under the Climate Bill 2015 will examine in particular what the sector can contribute to the overall national emissions target for 2020, through cost-effective mitigation measures while maintaining economic sustainability and efficiency in the sector. The Teagasc Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (2012) and the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 will be very important to informing this process. The Government Bill outlines “approach to carbon neutrality in the agriculture and land-use sector, including forestry, which does not compromise capacity for sustainable food production”; the challenge will be how to maximise our productive agricultural capacity while maintaining our commitment to sustainability, the Food Harvest 2020 theme of “smart, green, growth” at its core.

The approach in the current Effort Sharing Decision, in terms of GHG reduction targets for 2020, treats the biogenic emissions from agriculture in essentially the same way as anthropogenic emissions from sectors such as transport and does not take into account the limited cost-effective mitigation options available in the sector. While the 2020 targets remain binding, Ireland has consistently pointed out that if emissions reduction targets continue to be set in this rather blunt manner into the future, the only way that the EU agriculture sector could move to compliance would be through reduced production. This would lead to carbon leakage to other less efficient production systems, and would be a perverse consequence of a short-sighted climate policy in the EU which would in fact lead to increased levels of emissions globally. Ireland has stressed that there is currently a disconnect between EU food security policy and climate ambition to 2020.

As a direct result of Ireland’s leading role over the past two years in discussion with the Commission on the EU 2030 Climate & Energy Framework, the EU Heads of State and Governments agreed (inter alia) the following critical text at the October 2014 European Council meeting:

“The multiple objectives of the agriculture and land use sector, with their lower mitigation potential, should be acknowledged, as well as the need to ensure coherence between the EU's food security and climate change objectives”.

The recent report published by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission entitled ‘Economic assessment of greenhouse gas mitigation policy options for EU agriculture'confirms what Ireland has been saying in recent years to the Commission and reinforces the text of the October 2014 European Council Conclusions. If there are blunt emissions reduction targets for agriculture that do not take account of the limited cost-effective mitigation options, then reduced production and land abandonment is the major risk associated with compliance.

Officials from my Department are continuing to work with colleagues in other Departments to ensure a whole of Government approach to building upon the October text, and working with the Commission to ensure that EU climate and food policies to 2030 and beyond are coherent and consistent in recognising the reality of the global challenges that we are facing.

Reduced production is not an option for the Irish agriculture sector - we are committed to ensuring that the sector continues to grow sustainably so that Ireland can play its part in meeting the increasing global food demand while having regard to Ireland’s climate obligations.

I have established a high-level committee that includes leading stakeholders in the Irish agri-food and environment sectors to develop a new ten year agri-food strategy to 2025. Independent consultants are working in tandem with the committee to carry out an environmental analysis of the strategy that includes an appropriate assessment and strategic environmental assessment.

While I cannot pre-empt the outcome of this important work the emphasis must be placed on encouraging sustainable intensification of food production in light of the growing global demand so as to reduce the carbon intensity of product, as well as contribute to both food security and greenhouse gas mitigation objectives.

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