Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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761. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the investment by his Department in research and innovation that is focused on the delivery of climate action and solutions for farmers, particularly with regard to supporting farmers in achieving the 25% target of lowering greenhouse gas emissions for the agriculture sector by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53150/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Achieving a 25% reduction in GHG emissions from agriculture by 2030 is a significant challenge and one in which research will play a critical role.

I committed to increase climate Research investment at COP26 as part of the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM4C) initiative. An example of this in practice is that over 60% of the funding in the research Call run by my Department in 2021 went to climate and environment research, including over €15 million to 14 projects.

One of the projects funded - ‘LAB-MACC’ - will quantify a range of mitigation measures, including new and emerging practices and technologies, for incorporation into production systems that will enable the sector to reduce its emissions.

Building on this further, I announced a new joint research mechanism with the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries earlier this year to co-fund research on climate and agriculture. This will see an additional investment of over €3million for focused research across a range of areas such as breeding and genetics and feed additives.

A significant proportion of the core grant in aid my Department provides to Teagasc is also used for research, with an increasing proportion being directed at research to reduce emissions from agriculture. In addition, funding provided to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation contributes to the development of breeding indices which can result in lower emitting animals.