Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 May 2020
695. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects to be in a position to enhance the prospects of the beef and dairy sectors in the future while at the same time complying with carbon reduction targets without damaging the industry and its food production capacity at a time of worldwide concerns regarding food security and availability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8192/20]
View answerWhile Ireland is internationally recognised as having one of the most carbon efficient systems of dairy and beef production in the EU, there is huge variability in carbon efficiency within the country. The Teagasc Sustainability Survey shows that the top performing third of farms emitted, on average, 9.6 kg CO2 equivalent per kg beef, compared with 14.9 kg for the bottom performing third of cattle farms. Reducing this variability is a real opportunity to make progress in reducing emissions from cattle production in Ireland with positive economic dividend on the farms concerned. Schemes such as the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) and Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme-Sucklers (BEEP-S) are focused on improving the carbon efficiency of the beef herd.
My Department is progressing a draft roadmap called ‘Agclimatise’ which aims to translate the targets in the National Climate Action Plan into more detailed actions with clear performance indicators. Actions proposed for the agricultural sector include: enhancing soil fertility and nutrient efficiency, promoting the use of protected nitrogen products, developing enhanced dairy and breeding programmes and developing a charter with animal feed manufacturers on the crude protein content of livestock. The pathway to delivery is challenging, and will require greater collaboration between farmers, industry, Government and other stakeholders to deliver on-farm impacts.
I am confident that the agriculture sector as a whole will contribute significantly to achieving Ireland’s climate targets and its transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy and society, with collaboration, co-operation and collective responsibility being key in achieving this ambition.
