Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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121. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he can, through CAP or by way of other measures, ensure that agri-food production is not impaired by carbon reduction measures given that Ireland’s carbon footprint is the lowest globally for the level of food production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25869/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has several policies and strategies in place to ensure agriculture plays its role in meeting the national climate targets for 2030 and 2050, while continuing to sustainably produce food and feed. Indeed, the Food Vision 2030 Strategy sets out a pathway for Ireland to become a world leader in Sustainable Food Systems over the next decade.

The targets for agriculture are challenging and will require the implementation of significant mitigation measures, including reducing chemical nitrogen usage, changing fertiliser type and providing voluntary diversification options for farmers.

The actions set out in the Agricultural Chapter of Climate Action Plan 2024 are supported through enhanced targeted supports set out in Ireland’s Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan (CSP 2023-2027) under the remit of schemes such as Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS), Agri-Climate Rural Environmental Scheme (ACRES), Organic Farming Scheme (OFS), Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP), Protein Aid Scheme, Tillage Incentive Scheme (TIS) and Straw Incorporation Scheme. The CAP Strategic Plan has seen a significant increase funding, bringing the current total budget to almost €10 billion.

My Department is investing in research across a range of mitigation headings. There is significant potential for technologies such as feed additives to contribute to reducing Methane. Furthermore, the implementation of a low emission breeding programme has significant potential to harness the genetic variation for Methane emissions that exists within the national herd. The results of this research also highlight the potential to breed more environmentally sustainable animals, without impacting food production.

There is no doubt that some farmers will take up diversification options that are provided as part of our climate transformation including to areas such as Organics, Forestry, Tillage and the provision of feedstock for Anaerobic Digestion. However, given the efficiency gains that continue to be made at farm level, I remain confident that we will continue to reduce emissions from our agri-food system without reducing our production.

It is critical that we work together to achieve our environmental targets while maintaining food production and the sector’s important share in export markets.