Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

186. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Government has taken note of the latest Teagasc research data which shows that the carbon footprint of Irish produce has been reduced by circa 15% since 1990 and that the nitrogen footprint of Irish produce has been reduced by circa 25% (details supplied). [48631/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am very aware of the Teagasc research which shows the environmental and resource efficiency of Irish agricultural produce.  This research illustrates the effectiveness of policy measures to date and the commitment of the agri-food sector to reducing the environmental footprint of food production.

The sector has already made huge strides in decoupling sector growth from gross emissions. This achievement has been delivered as a result of continued research, advances in animal genetics, health and nutrition, and through optimising the use of fertilisers.

A range of actions are being undertaken to make Irish farming even more environmentally sustainable including through the Rural Development Programme (RDP), worth almost €4 billion over seven years. Measures such as:

The Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) incentivises agricultural production methods to address issues of climate change, water quality and biodiversity loss.  The scheme also supports low carbon agriculture through a range of cross-cutting measures, and promotes the delivery of targeted environmental advice and best practice at farm level. 50,000 farmers have prepared nutrient management plans and soil sampled their farms as an entry requirement to the scheme.

The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) is directly targeted at the climate emissions of 30,000 beef farmers. It will assist farmers in selecting robust and resource efficient suckler cow replacements thus lowering the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions by improving the quality and efficiency of the national herd.

The knowledge transfer programmes bring the latest innovative sustainability research and practices direct to farmers.

Farmers are also being assisted in the purchase of Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) equipment under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS) scheme. The use of this type of equipment is supported under the GLAS scheme.

Nitrogen is now more efficiently used through improved manure management and soil fertility. The Nitrates Action Programme helps in this regard and contains measures to protect surface waters and ground water from agricultural sources.

The above are just some of the measures being undertaken, however, policy interventions must be optimised by well-informed scientific research. In this regard my Department has invested heavily in climate change actions through our own Research Funding Programmes which of course complement Teagasc activities in this area. It is through this continued investment in and engagement with research initiatives that the sector will continue to make progress in reducing GHGs that are associated with agricultural production.