Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

532. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to encourage carbon farming, including schemes or policies to recognise the work of the tillage sector in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22737/23]

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

Carbon farming includes those farming practices that remove CO₂from the atmosphere and contribute to the climate neutrality objective. I am keen to see the implementation of a Carbon Farming Framework in Ireland.

In order to develop such a framework, some important groundwork needs to be completed in order to set up a quality and successful scheme which aligns with the EU Commission legislative proposal for aUnion certification framework for carbon removals, which was published on 30^thNovember 2022. The stated aim of the initiative is to ensure high-quality EU certified carbon removals, through a transparent and credible governance framework. I am sensitive to the need to ensure that any activity at national level is in line with and complements this EU proposal.

A certification system should enable more effective rewards for carbon farming facilitated through either public or private initiatives.

The EU Commission proposes to develop certification methodologies, in consultation with experts and stakeholders; and harmonise the implementation of the certification framework across the EU.

It is anticipated that the EU scheme will come into full operation in 2030. Several milestones will have to be achieved before the scheme becomes active.

Firstly, the EU Expert Group on Carbon Removals will complete its work on baselines in 2023. Secondly, the regulation will be published before the end of October 2024.

In 2025, the operational phase of the framework will commence on a phased basis, empowering accreditation and certification bodies, with the establishment of a registry and other frameworks.

In 2028, all land managers will have access to verified removal data and baseline data collection. In this context, my Department has provided finance for multiple research programmes and projects in this area.

This will support real time data analysis will help plan, explore opportunities and prioritise actions to reduce emissions and enhance removals, while aligning with the EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework.

Nationally, there are knowledge and data gaps that will need to be bridged to facilitate carbon farming and that is why I have funded a number of key research and demonstration activities that will also help to provide baseline information on key activities within the agricultural and land use sectors including the Tillage sector.

For example, the recently launched country wide network of Teagasc supported Signpost Farms will showcase how best practice management techniques can be adopted on a wide range of enterprises and soil types including the Tillage sector.

These research and demonstration activities, along with the recent establishment of the Carbon Farming Working Group, chaired by my Department, will allow us to address a number of requirements around carbon farming mainly in the areas of establishing baseline data, auditing, governance and address the need for the Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) of carbon removals/reductions.

In the meantime, I will continue to provide financial support for farmers providing eco system's services through a variety of EU and nationally funded schemes.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

533. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide support to the tillage sector, including adjustments to tax-free land leases to incentivise the leasing of the land to tillage and horticulture farmers whose emissions per acre are far lower than any other food producing sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22738/23]

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

As the Deputy is probably aware, primary responsibility for taxation policy lies with the Minister for Finance.

However, I work closely with him to ensure that the Government’s agri-food policy objectives are supported wherever possible.

Section 664 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for the exemption from tax of certain income earned from the long-term leasing of farmland. The relief was designed to encourage longer-term leases of farmland, with the policy objective of assisting with land mobility, while moving away from the inefficient conacre system.

The tax benefit is to the lessor of land and provides a route to retirement for older farmers and access to land for younger farmers, assisting generational renewal. It also provides security of tenure and the certainty required to encourage lessees.

A vibrant and sustainable tillage sector is central to increasing Ireland’s food and feed security while also contributing to climate change objectives.

Maintaining, firstly, and subsequently growing the area under tillage is an important strategic objective of mine and my Department. This is highlighted in the Food Vision 2030 Strategy and more recently in the Climate Action Plan where a target has been set to grow the area under tillage crops to 400,000ha by 2030.

To help achieve this objective, I recently established the Food Vision 2030 Tillage Group and I hosted its first meeting on Thursday 11th May 2023. This group will bring together all relevant stakeholders to set out a roadmap for the sustainable growth and development of the sector to 2030. I have tasked the group with providing a detailed plan and recommendations by the end of July with a final plan to be submitted during the final quarter of 2023.