Written answers

Thursday, 21 October 2021

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Agriculture Industry

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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61. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will carry out a comprehensive analysis of the impact of factory owned feedlots on the beef sector including their effect on prices and the environment as a result of record kills in such facilities in 2021. [50713/21]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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It is important to clarify that there is no legal definition of a feedlot herd.  The Deputy may be referring to Controlled Finishing Units. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) defines certain herds as Controlled Finishing Units (CFUs) in the context of the Bovine TB Eradication Programme. 

This definition is unique to that programme and does not necessarily mirror the use of the term "feedlot" by the public and/or other institutions. CFUs are subject to enhanced biosecurity measures as part of the TB Programme and can only sell direct to slaughter.

The Department is the designated authority for price reporting to the EU  (under EU 2017/1185) and currently reports on prices in the following areas: beef, sheep meat, pig meat, poultry, eggs, butter, skimmed milk and cheese.

In this context, DAFM receives price data from factories with slaughter levels over a specific threshold. Based on this data DAFM reports the average price for different categories per week to the EU which in turn publishes Members States data as part of the Market Observatory. Price reporting carried out by my Department does not currently include separate assessment in respect of Controlled Finishing Units.

I have acknowledged the importance of transparency in the market for primary producers and my Department is progressing several initiatives to increase transparency. 

Central to my commitment to transparency is the establishment of a new Office of the National Food Ombudsman or equivalent.As the Deputy will be aware, the Department and Bord Bia already publish a wide range of price and comparative market data on a weekly basis.  

I am committed to progressing this office as a matter of urgency to bring much-needed transparency to the sector.

Photo of Aindrias MoynihanAindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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62. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of engagement with farmers around the sector’s ability to sequester carbon and the challenges they face with climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51707/21]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am very much aware of the important role that on-farm carbon removals and carbon pool protection will play in meeting the sectors challenging climate change targets going forward.

It is important that the increased removal and storage of atmospheric carbon brought about through the on-farm activities of our farmers is not only recognised in the National Inventory Reporting accounting system but also that farmers receive the recognition for their efforts in this area.

Towards this end, I have engaged extensively with farmers and industry to develop a pathway to increase land-based carbon sequestration while also ensuring emission reductions and sustainable growth across the agricultural sector.

The success of this engagement can be seen in the Ag-Climatise Roadmap which sets out a clear pathway for the sector to meet its environmental objectives while also committing to a climate neutral sector by 2050. This document was informed by a number of public and industry consultations which provides ownership of the aims and objectives of the roadmap to all players within the agricultural sector.

In recent months, despite the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has presented, I have continued to engage with farmers through a number of online and traditional communication platforms to ensure that farmers views are adequately incorporated into both the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan and also the Food Vision 2030 Strategy.

Recent developments such as my announcement of the opening of the Pilot Soil Sampling and Analysis Programme and the provision of significant funding for the establishment of the National Agricultural Soil Carbon Observatory (NASCO) with supporting technology for the measurement of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from a range of different soil and farm types will inform policy decisions to allow my Department to develop climate change policies which actively promote farmer engagement.

It is also important to note the establishment of a network of Signpost Farms across the country, led by Teagasc, will also actively seek farmer engagement to disseminate research and advisory management advice to provide farmers with the tools they will need to meet the climate challenges they will face in the future.

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