Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 October 2021
384. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he continues to take to ensure that full credit is given to food producers in Ireland for their ability to produce dairy and beef products at an exceptionally low level of carbon emissions; the extent to which this continues to be recognised internationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51929/21]
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.
The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021 supports Ireland’s transition to Net Zero and achieve a climate neutral economy no later than 2050.
Ag Climatise, the National Climate and Air Roadmap for the Agriculture Sector published by my Department last December, is a living document which sets out 29 actions designed to achieve a climate neutral agriculture sector.
In addition, I am confident that the strategic framework set out in the recently published Food Vision 2030 strategy sets out an effective pathway to deal with these challenges, while establishing Ireland as a world leader in sustainable food systems.
