Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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1545. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking in response to the environmental impacts of an increase in intensive farms. [12755/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland is a unique agricultural country with a largely extensive livestock sector utilising an excellent and sustainable grass-based system. My comparison to most other productive agricultural nations, Ireland does not have large-scale intensive farms.

Livestock grazing out of doors dominates Irish agriculture and our agriculture sector has a reputation for high quality and sustainably produced food. Maintaining and verifying that reputation is an imperative for our agri-food industries. Ireland is already well placed through the success of the Origin Green programme and can maintain and build on this competitive advantage, provided changes are made over the years ahead to enhance the sector’s environmental credentials.

The Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine’s ‘Food Vision 2030 - A World Leader in Sustainable Food Systems’ strongly advocates for sustainability as we develop our agrifood sector to meet the highest standards of sustainability across all three pillars – economic, environmental, and social. The strategy recognises the challenges ahead, while proposing solutions and charting a pathway towards sustainability.

The agriculture sector has been designated a specific target within the Climate Action Plan of reducing emissions by 25% by 2030. There are a number of measures my Department is leading on that have been, and will continue assisting farmers in delivering on these targets.

The Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) and Green Low-Carbon Agricultural Scheme (GLAS) have helped increase the uptake of Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) on our farms, with over 35% of total slurry applied using this new technology in 2021. My Department will continue to financially support farmers transition to this technology through the provision of grant aid for LESS machines in the recently launched TAMS III scheme.

Since 2015, the Beef Data Genomics Programme (BDGP) has helped lower the intensity of GHG emissions within the beef herd and improve genetic merit. 2022 was the final year of the BDGP with the commencement of the similar Suckler Carbon Efficiency Scheme in 2023 as part of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). This new scheme will further enhance what the BDGP has achieved already.

The Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) has proven itself to be a popular scheme that offers crucial income supports to tillage farmers while helping to sequester more carbon from the atmosphere.

The Red Clover Silage Measure (RCSM) which my Department introduced in 2022 aims to encourage farmers to sow red clover silage swards. These swards increase carbon sequestration while reducing the environmental impacts from chemical fertilisers.

Under the CAP Strategic Plan, farmers will be rewarded for delivering environmental services through two distinct pathways. Firstly, the establishment of a voluntary eco-scheme incentive as part of Pillar I direct payments will financially reward farmers for providing additional environmental action. Secondly, voluntary participation in results-based schemes established in Pillar II Rural Development Programme Schemes such as the new National Agri-Environment Scheme and Organic Farming Scheme will directly assist in meeting our environmental targets and contribute to the financial sustainability of participating farmers.

My Department has received 46,000 applications for the new National Agri-Environment Scheme ACRES and I was delighted to announce that every applicant has been accepted in the scheme.

My Department is supporting a number of research projects and initiatives to develop the necessary future technologies and know-how to facilitate the move to a more sustainable Irish agriculture.

My Department has provided funding of €8m to 12 Methane related research projects over the last 5 years. For example,“GREENBREED” is a Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine funded research project investigating sustainable ruminant breeding programs for a low environmental footprint in dairy, beef and sheep. “METH-ABATE” is a DAFM funded research project, led by Teagasc and is looking at the development and validation of novel feed technologies to reduce methane emissions from pasture based Irish agricultural systems. This includes evaluating several feed additives to mitigate methane emissions while simultaneously monitoring animal productivity. The European Food Safety Authority approved methane reducing feed additive “3-NOP” continues to be evaluated through this work with initial promising results.

My Department will continue to lead and support the enhancement of the Irish Agricultural sector’s environmental credentials.