Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 April 2024
94. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether any reduction in the size of the national herd is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18335/24]
View answerIreland has established a range of ambitious climate change targets across all sectors. The targets for agriculture are particularly challenging.
Nevertheless, emissions from agriculture are already reducing. EPA inventory data shows that greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture decreased by 1.2% in 2022, driven principally by a 14% reduction in the use of synthetic fertilisers. While the inventory figures for 2023 have not yet been finalised, the indications are that there will be a further decrease.
The Climate Action Plan includes a range of measures to reduce emissions from agriculture. These include reductions in the use of chemical nitrogen, the substitution of inhibited urea for other forms of fertiliser, reductions in the protein content of animal feed and improvements in breeding technologies to allow earlier finishing of beef cattle and a focus on low methane traits.
In addition, livestock farmers are being offered diversification options, including organic farming, forestry and tillage, and I will shortly be publishing a biomethane strategy that will provide an alternative use for grass forage and slurry and contribute to reductions in emissions from agriculture and to the delivery of Ireland’s renewable energy targets.
My department and its agencies are also investing in research across of range of climate change mitigation headings, and there is significant potential for technologies such as methane reducing feed additives to contribute to abatement in the livestock sector.
The evidence in relation to livestock numbers is that they have been stabilising in recent years, and according to ICBF most recent figures, the overall number of cows declined by approximately 27,000 in 2023. From a policy perspective I have made it clear that I will offer diversification options to farmers, but that I do not intend to require any compulsory reduction in livestock numbers.
In the meantime the climate change mitigation measures identified by my department, and the development of methane reducing feed additives, should the ongoing research reach the stage where the product can be commercialised, have the potential to significantly reduce emissions from agriculture without a corresponding reduction in livestock numbers.
