Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 November 2020
346. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measurement his Department carries out on soil organic carbon in Ireland; the incentives in place for individual farmers to measure soil organic carbon on their own land; the incentives in place for individual farmers to increase the level of soil organic carbon on their land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37474/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department considers it critical that we increase our understanding and scientific knowledge of carbon movement in soils i.e. both carbon loss and opportunity for carbon storage. In conjunction with Teagasc, we are increasing our capacity to monitor soil carbon with a view to supporting farmers implement best practices in removing carbon on their farms
The Green Low-carbon Agri-environmental Scheme (GLAS), a co-funded EU/DAFM scheme has two actions in place for individual farmers to increase levels of soil organic carbon. The Catch Crop action is designed to establish a crop that will absorb nutrients and prevent leaching in the autumn/winter period and increase the organic matter and the Minimum Tillage action is designed to improve soil structure and increase soil organic matter.
In addition, the ‘Danú Farming Group’, one of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) projects is a pilot project with focuses on the principles of Biological Farming. This project aims to educate farmers on implementing the principles of Biological Farming and to develop a transition programme based on understanding of soil structure and chemistry with an emphasis on developing soils with a high level of biological activity.
My Department has also recently launched an EIP for rewetting of farmed organic peatlands with a view to supporting farmers in actions to storing carbon in such soils.
My Department is aware of the importance of soil health and soil organic carbon and a proposed soil sampling programme is under development for 2021. The proposed National Soil Sampling and Analysis Programme will develop a national baseline of soil parameters and focus on soil carbon along with other soil nutrient metrics. This proposal is in the early stages of development and more information will be available to the public over the course of 2021.
