Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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129. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will acknowledge recent ESRI research showing that farmers are just as concerned about climate change as urban dwellers (details supplied); and the steps his Department is taking to support and engage with farmers who are already adapting to the realities of climate change, including the challenges of working through increasingly frequent major weather warnings and unpredictable conditions. [55122/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department welcomes the recent ESRI research which shows that farmers are just as concerned about climate change as those in urban areas. It reflects the strong awareness and commitment already evident across the farming community to protect the environment and their livelihoods.

Adaptation to climate change in agriculture includes everything from researching new production systems to techniques for improving existing production systems, and sharing practices that work with farmers.

It is not a one-time emergency response, but a series of proactive measures that are taken over time to build resilience to the impacts of climate change, ultimately minimising the costs of climate change and maximising any opportunities that may arise.

My Department recognises the real challenges farmers face from climate impacts such as flooding, drought and increasingly unpredictable weather. Supporting resilience and viability in the sector is a core objective under my Department’s Statement of Strategy, and climate adaptation is central to that goal.

I recently concluded a public consultation on an Agriculture, Forestry and Seafood Sectoral Adaptation Plan (2025 – 2030), which is to be finalised shortly as part of an overall Government approach to climate adaptation.

It will set out practical measures to help farmers prepare for, and adapt to, such challenges. It will also set out actions to build advisory capacity and strengthen climate preparedness, while aligning more closely with wider mitigation efforts under the CAP Strategic Plan, Food Vision 2030 and the National Forest Strategy (2023 – 2030).

My Department is supporting research and advisory initiatives such as the online sustainability tool AgNav, and the National Agricultural Soil Carbon Observatory, providing farmers with the data and guidance needed to make informed decisions.

This includes cutting-edge research on methane reduction technologies, such as feed and manure additives. These initiatives show that, with the right tools and supports, Irish farmers are ready and willing to adapt practices for climate change.

Farmers are showing strong commitment to tackling climate change, and Teagasc’s Signpost Farms are central to this effort. The Teagasc Signpost Programme is a national initiative to guide Irish farmers in adopting climate-smart practices to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, improve water quality, and enhance biodiversity, ultimately making farming more sustainable and profitable.

The farming community has already shown real leadership in adapting to change. My Department will continue to engage directly with farmers and ensure that they have the supports, information, and tools to build a more climate-resilient, low carbon sector for the future.