Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 October 2021
379. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the level of dairy production here continues to be stable into the future notwithstanding any restrictions by way of carbon reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51924/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act will support Ireland’s transition to Net Zero and achieve a climate neutral economy by no later than 2050.
The Act commits our economy to an ambitious and challenging 51% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 with specific regards to the special economic and social role of agriculture, including regarding the distinct characteristics of biogenic methane.
Agriculture must do its fair share and absolute emissions from the sector must fall over the years ahead.
Food Vision 2030, the new stakeholder-led ten-year strategy for the Irish agri-food sector, demonstrates our commitment to establishing Ireland as an international leader in Sustainable Food Systems. Ireland must adopt this systematic approach to ensure a climate smart, environmentally sustainable agri-food sector into the future, to achieve our goal of a climate-neutral agri-food system by 2050.
AgClimatise, our National Roadmap towards Climate Neutrality for the Agriculture Sector, to be implemented under the Strategy, sets us on a path to developing a climate neutral food system compatible with the Paris Agreement temperature goals by 2050, whereby the climate impact of biogenic methane is reduced to zero and remaining agricultural emissions are balanced by removals through land use and a significant contribution to renewable energy.
While the national herd has remained relatively stable in recent years, dairy cow numbers are now 49% higher than in 2010, exceeding 1.6 million in 2021 according to the CSO Provisional June livestock survey. An increase in biogenic methane emissions from increasing livestock numbers will compromise the objective of achieving a climate-neutral agri-food sector by 2050.
Therefore, stabilising the national herd number will be necessary to achieve our emissions reduction targets. It is important to emphasise, however, that stabilising the national herd is just one contributory factor to mitigating Greenhouse Gas and ammonia emissions.
Under the guidance of FoodVision 2030, detailed plans will be produced to manage the sustainable environmental footprint of the dairy sector, as well as the beef sector. Ireland’s new CAP Strategic Plan (2023-2027) will provide incentives which underpin the sustainable development of the agri-food sector, providing appropriate supports to primary producers in leading the implementation of environment and climate objectives.
Amongst these supports, Targeted Agriculture Modernisations Schemes (TAMS) will provide ongoing financial supports, while breeding technologies will play a key role in reducing the carbon footprint of livestock sector.
In addition, both I and the Department will continue to promote the development of a competitive dairy sector, which facilitates trade in dairy products, and maximises market access opportunities and scope for product and market diversification.
