Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

842. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the additional abatement impact expected through replacing 65% of straight CAN with protected urea or other protected nitrogen products by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15902/22]

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

The Deputy raises an important greenhouse gas abatement measure for the agricultural sector. Protected urea is a urea-based chemical nitrogen fertiliser coated with a urease inhibitor. This inhibitor reduces emissions of ammonia when applied to land. Urea based fertilisers have significantly less nitrous oxide emissions (a greenhouse gas (GHG)) associated with them compared to Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN).

Under the Climate Action Plan, the plan is to replace 65% of CAN fertiliser with protected urea (or other protected nitrogen products) by 2030. Assuming a total chemical nitrogen usage of 325,000 tonnes in 2030, as per the Climate Action Plan, this replacement rate will lead to a reduction in nitrous oxide emissions of approximately 0.8 million tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (MT CO2 eq).

In summary, reducing total chemical nitrogen use on farms as well as changing the type of chemical nitrogen applied are two of the most important measures for reducing overall GHG emissions from agriculture. In view of this, I have put in place additional supports to drive the adoption of multispecies and clover swards. These measures, when adopted on farms, will significantly reduce chemical nitrogen demand over the course of the decade.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

843. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current adoption rate of LESS technology; the additional abatement impact of increasing the use of LESS technology to 90%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15903/22]

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

The Deputy raises an important issue in the context of transitioning to a more long term sustainable platform for Irish agriculture. Low Emissions Slurry Technology (LESS) refers to trailing hose and band spreader slurry application technologies. The main objective for using this technology is to reduce emissions of ammonia to enable compliance with our limits under the National Emissions Ceiling Directive. In addition, the use of LESS enables better recovery of nitrogen from our organic manures thus reducing our dependence on chemical nitrogen.

The uptake of the technology has been growing in recent years, from 5% of total slurry applied by LESS in 2018, to 16% in 2019 and 36% in 2020. These figures are taken from the Teagasc National Farm survey. The objective is to achieve a 90% uptake rate by 2027, and based on current trends, we are on track to meet this ambitious target. My Department will continue to financially support farmers to transition to the technology through the provision of grant aid for LESS machines.

By achieving an uptake rate of 90%, starting from a base of 0% LESS usage, approximately 12,000 tonnes of ammonia will be abated, making a significant contribution to the achievement of our targets under the National Emissions Ceiling Directive.