Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

10. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures his Department is taking to address agriculture’s large contribution to carbon emissions to meet emissions targets agreed by the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34018/15]

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

Sustainable growth is a basic principle of all of our agriculture policies and programmes - 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 our climate obligations. This is why my Department and its agencies have developed a series of innovative measures including Origin Green and the Carbon Navigator initiative to drive sustainability in the sector. Sustainability and climate change measures are also key elements of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.

My Department is also developing its sectorial contribution to the National Mitigation Plan, which will examine how the sector can play its part in addressing the current 2020 compliance challenge and will look out to 2030 and beyond.

The recently launched agri-food strategy, Food Wise 2025, sets a course for the agri-food industry of more sustainable growth over the next decade. An environmental analysis was developed in tandem with this strategy and the final report will be completed shortly.

Ireland sees agriculture, forestry and other land uses (AFOLU) greenhouse mitigation policy as intrinsically linked in an integrated land-use approach. Our major commitment to investment in the Forestry Programme will yield a very significant level of mitigation to 2020 and beyond.

My Department is also working closely with colleagues in the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to assess the potential of bioenergy from the agriculture and forestry sectors to contribute to the 2020 renewable energy targets.

In terms of research and its contribution to the environmentally sustainable development of the agri-food sector; my Department provides a core grant to Teagasc, and operates competitive funding programmes for ‘public good’ type agri-food research, namely Stimulus and FIRM. A recurring research priority is the greenhouse gas efficiency of Irish agricultural production systems so as to maintain our economic and environmental competitive advantages.