Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2023
63. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the top priorities in 2024 for carbon emission abatement in agriculture, in marine and in forestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46964/23]
View answerOn the marine side, I am happy to see that the transition of Ireland’s seafood sector to carbon neutrality has already commenced. Important developments supporting this transition are emerging at European level as part of the review of the Common Fisheries Policy and the associated package of measures to improve the sustainability and resilience of the EU fisheries and aquaculture sector.
In agriculture, the focus is on reducing Nitrous Oxide and Methane emissions, while increasing carbon capture and storage and contributing in a positive way to the decarbonisation of the energy system.
In 2024 reducing the application of Nitrogen based fertilisers will be a priority, replacing them with low emission fertilisers and Nitrogen fixed naturally in our soils by legumes such as clover. This is very much supported by the introduction of the fertiliser database under legislation this year. A significant reduction in fertiliser usage by Irish farmers of approximately 14% was seen in 2022. Whilst we await final figures for 2023, this reduction has continued and indeed has been built on with a further reduction in usage. This reduction is supported also through availability for support I introduced such as multispecies swards, red-clover and liming.
Reducing the age of finishing of our beef cattle will be a key area of focus and a measure that can significantly improve the carbon footprint of Irish beef.
One of my top priorities in 2024 is to enhance carbon sequestration through land use measures such as improved management of grassland on mineral soils, cover crops, incorporation of straw and afforestation.
Carbon Farming will be a critical part of our policy to meet climate targets. I recently launched a public consultation to guide the development of a National Carbon Farming Framework. Confidence in a carbon farming framework is a critical step in developing opportunities for additional financial rewards for actions by farmers to reduce emissions, including access to private sector funding. My Department has already created such opportunities under the woodland environmental fund.
I launched the new Forestry programme in September 2023, which is the most ambitious in the history of the State. Next year’s funding of €110 million will provide a strong foundation to the sector so that we can increase annual planting levels from 2024.
Continuing to increase the area being organically farmed in Ireland will be a priority in 2024. We have doubled the number of organic farmers and the land area farmed organically since this Government came to office. Budget 2024 will provide an allocation of €57 million to organics, which reflects the extraordinary level of interest in this scheme.
Continued investment in research and innovation will continue to be key in 2024, with new technological solutions being crucial to achieving emissions reductions. For example, great progress has been made in relation to feed additives, which will have a significant positive impact on reducing emissions.
The agriculture and land-use sector has been on a journey regarding emissions reduction for the last number of years and I am confident that the sector will enhance its environmentally credentials and will continue to produce world class products that are nutritious, safe and environmentally sustainable.
