Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 October 2018
158. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the agrifood sector can respond positively to climate change requirements such as reduction of greenhouse gases; the measures taken or likely to be taken in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41715/18]
View answer159. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions likely to contribute to greenhouse gas reduction throughout the agri-food sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41716/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 159 together.
The agri food sector is responding positively to climate change requirements through reducing emissions where possible, enhancing sequestration of carbon and providing renewable materials to other sectors. The long-term policy vision for the agriculture and land use sector as a whole is ‘an approach to carbon neutrality which does not compromise the capacity for sustainable food production’. The extent to which the sector can respond positively to climate change requirements is, however, qualified by the need to ensure that our capacity for sustainable food production is maintained.
The farming sector is actively engaging in a number of measures and actions focused on the environment and climate, which support the continued transition towards carbon neutrality. Some examples include the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP), which is aimed at lowering the intensity of GHG emissions by improving the quality and efficiency of the national beef herd, the Green Low Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme, which offers opportunities to support emission reductions and carbon sequestration through various environmental priority actions such as hedgerow/tree planting and minimum tillage, and the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS). This last scheme supports capital investment to promote sustainability such as low emissions slurry spreading equipment and energy efficiency support measures.
I have also just announced a new pilot scheme called - The Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot, which builds on the success of the BDGP. This new pilot scheme will be targeted at suckler farmers and specifically aimed at further improving the carbon efficiency of beef production by measuring the weaning efficiency of suckler cows.
Afforestation also has an important role to play. It is the main cost effective land based mitigation tool available to us. The role afforestation and forests play with respect to climate mitigation is threefold: the direct sequestration of carbon in the forest and resulting wood products, replacing energy intensive materials and providing sustainable renewable biomass to the energy sector. Since 1990 almost 312,000 hectares have been afforested primarily by farmers with supports from my Department, which represents a 40% increase in forest cover. It is intended to expand our overall forest estate from 11% to 18% by 2050.
My Department is deeply involved both at national and international level on issues related to agriculture and climate. We are engaging with organisations such as the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), the UNFCCC Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the EU Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use group.
On the home front we are engaged with colleagues across government in the National Mitigation planning process and adaptation planning.
Looking to the future, the recently published Teagasc report “An Analysis of Abatement Potential of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Irish Agriculture 2021-2030” highlights the potential for GHG abatement to limit the emissions from the sector over the period 2021 to 2030 based on current scientific knowledge against the likely level of future GHG emissions if no action is taken to address the emissions. It is an important piece of research that will inform developments in relation to future policy development.
