Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 February 2024
99. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how the sectoral emissions reductions targets for agriculture for the first carbon budget period can now be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8354/24]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the 25% sectoral emission reduction set for the agriculture sector is a challenging target, requiring scientific and technological advancements. These include reducing chemical nitrogen usage and changing fertiliser type; providing voluntary diversification options for farmers, and improving environmental dividends from farmed land. These measures are supported by a range of actions, setting out a viable pathway towards reaching agriculture’s target.
The actions set out in the CAP are supported through enhanced targeted supports set out in Ireland’s Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan (CSP 2023-2027) under the remit of schemes such as Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS), Agri-Climate Rural Environmental Scheme (ACRES), Organic Farming Scheme (OFS), Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP), Protein Aid Scheme, Tillage Incentive Scheme (TIS) and the Straw Incorporation Scheme. The CSP has seen a significant increase in national co-funding, bringing the total budget to almost €10 billion.
The agricultural sector has made substantial progress on some of CAP23’s KPIs in the past year. For example, the use of chemical nitrogen (N) has decreased in comparison to last year. This brings the agricultural sector close to its goal of reducing chemical N use to a maximum of 330,000 tonnes by 2025.
Ireland is progressing our climate commitments with respect to reduced management intensity on soils and afforestation, supported by DAFM’s investment in the establishment of a ‘National Agricultural Soil Carbon Observatory’. The Irish Government is investing €1.3 billion in Irish forestry over the next five years. The National Forestry Programme for 2023 to 2027 will see an increase in forestry premiums of between 46% and 66%.
Mitigating agricultural emissions will require a sustained research effort. DAFM is supporting a number of research projects and initiatives to develop the necessary technologies to facilitate the move to a more sustainable agricultural sector with reduced emissions. DAFM has provided funding of €8m to 12 Methane related research projects over the last 5 years. The “METH-ABATE” project (funded by DAFM) is looking at the development and validation of novel technologies to reduce methane emissions from pasture based Irish agricultural systems.
This targeted, multifaceted approach will set Ireland on a positive trajectory in the context of the agricultural carbon budgets to 2030.
