Written answers

Thursday, 10 February 2022

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Food Industry

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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457. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which efforts continue to maximise the reduction of carbon emissions in the agri-food sector without reducing production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7337/22]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In November 2021, the Climate Action Plan was published, setting out an ambitious reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for the agriculture sector of between 22 and 30% by 2030 when compared with a 2018 baseline. The achievement of this target will take a whole-of-government, whole-of-sector approach. The Climate Action Plan is aligned with Food Vision 2030 strategy which was published last year.

One of the major actions of the Climate Action Plan is an overall reduction in chemical nitrogen fertiliser use to 325,000 tonnes by 2030, a key objective of the EU Farm-to-Fork Strategy. The Plan places significant emphasis on measures that will maintain grass productivity with reduced levels of chemical fertiliser use. These measures include an increased use of lime on farms, the use of clover and other multispecies swards that are less dependant on chemical nitrogen and a greater uptake of low emission slurry spreading technology. The Teagasc Signpost farms initiative, along with the many public and private advisors, will play a key role in up-skilling farmers over the years ahead. The recently submitted Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan also contains a number of measures that will support a transition to a more sustainable agricultural sector, including increased financial supports for organic farming.

By implementing the measures contained within the Climate Action Plan, I am very confident that we can transition the sector to a more long term sustainable platform, with co-benefits for water, air quality and biodiversity, while at all times, maintaining productivity in the sector. I have repeatedly indicated that research and innovation will be needed over the decade in order to bring the sector into compliance with its carbon budget ceiling, a position which is very much consistent with all sectors of the economy.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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458. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which imports of meat or dairy products have changed in the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7338/22]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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459. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which imports of beef, lamb, dairy or pig meat have increased or decreased into Ireland or via the European Union into Ireland over the past five years; the countries from which such imports originated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7339/22]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 458 and 459 together.

Over the period 2016 to 2020 the volume of imports of beef, dairy produce and sheep meat have increased while the volume of pig meat imports has decreased.

The volume of beef imported increased from 29,500 tonnes in 2016 to 30,000tonnes in 2020, an increase of 2%. This compares to 525,000 tonnes of beef Ireland exported in 2020. Imports of beef were valued at €130 million in 2020 while exports of beef were valued at €2,335 million.

The volume of dairy produce imports increased from 804,000 tonnes in 2016 to 997 thousand tonnes in 2020, an increase of 24%. In 2020, Ireland exported 1,714,000 tonnes of dairy produce. Imports of dairy produce cost €1,064 million while exports were almost five times higher at €5,109 million.

The volume of sheep meat imported in 2020 was 6,600 tonnes, up from 3,8000 tonnes in 2016 an increase of 74%. The value of the sheepmeat imports in 2020 was €37 million, about 10% of the value of sheepmeat exports at €356 million, while 64,000 tonnes of sheepmeat were exported.

Imports of pigmeat decreased between 2016 and 2020 from 99,000 tonnes to 86,000 tonnes. In 2020 Ireland exported 276,000 tonnes of pigmeat valued at €893 million compared to a value of €323 million on imports.

The full year preliminary data for the year 2021 will not be available from the Central Statistics Office until 15thFebruary 2022. Data for the period January to November 2021 indicates that in the 11 month period of 2021 imports of beef increased by 17% in volume, dairy produce imports decreased by 13%, pigmeat imports decreased by 4% and sheepmeat imports increased in volume by 2% compared to the same 11 month period in 2020.

Attached is an excel file which includes a breakdown of beef, dairy produce, pigmeat and sheepmeat imports for the period 2016 to 2020 and the period January to November 2020 and January to November 2021 by value and volume by country.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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460. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which Mercosur has facilitated imports of beef or other food products into Ireland or the European Union in the past five years; the extent to which this represents an increase or decrease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7340/22]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Based on the latest data available from the European Commission for the period 2017 to 2020, EU imports of beef from Mercosur countries have been stable, with on average approximately 200,000 tonnes imported per annum. The table below sets out the annual figures as well as latest figures available for 2021.

2017 2018 2019 2020 Jan-Nov 2021
Brazil 86,927 103,979 99,569 84,139 73,449
Argentina 49,259 61,400 65,324 56,421 47,699
Uruguay 52,079 47,922 40,483 34,611 40,801
Paraguay 5,922 5,520 5,203 4,234 3,666
Total 194,187 218,821 210,579 179,405 165,615

Source EU Commission

In terms of imports into Ireland from Mercosur, CSO data confirms that a minimal amount of beef is imported, with some €130,000 of product in value terms being imported in 2020. Overall, agri-food imports from Mercosur to Ireland have remained static in recent years, with an average value of €350 million. This is mainly comprised of animal feed imports used in the Irish livestock sector.

While the EU-Mercosur political agreement provides for a new beef tariff rate quota of 99,000 tonnes for Mercosur countries, the Economic and Sustainability Impact Assessment (ESIA) of the agreement, which was published in July 2021, found that, in a worst-case scenario, when the agreement is fully in place, EU beef imports would be expected to increase by a maximum of 53,000 tonnes. Notwithstanding that, I continue to have reservations over the Mercosur trade deal. Irish beef farmers produce a world-class product and operate to very high sustainability standards. We cannot have a substandard product significantly impacting on our primary producers.

This ESIA also concluded that, overall, Irish exports to the Mercosur market are expected to be 17% higher in 2035, with particular increases forecast in pharmaceuticals, computer and electronic products and processed foods and beverages. As with all trade agreements, there will be a range of impacts, both positive and negative.

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