Agriculture Industry

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022

Thursday, 8 September 2022

Ceisteanna (2106)

Colm Burke

Ceist:

2106. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to a proposal for the process of osmosis to be carried out on-site on dairy farms to assist in the removal of 50% of the water from milk (details supplied); if research will be conducted by his Department and research institutes to determine if this would benefit farmers in achieving emissions targets; if consideration will be given to making a grant fund available for such a facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42416/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department funds a wide range of public good research across the agri-food, forestry and bioeconomy sector.

While there is no project currently in receipt of funding that is investigating the area the Deputy refers to in his Question, the Department constantly reviews the topics it includes in its research calls.  The National Thematic Calls, that are launched approximately every 18-months, are informed by the relevant national research priorities for the sector, such as Food Vision 2030.

My Department has demonstrated a strong commitment to research in the area of climate change, as demonstrated by last year’s national call which provided funding of over €12 million to 10 projects in climate and agri-environment related research, accounting for 60% of the overall spend in this call; with a further four projects in climate-related research areas funded at just under €4 million in May of this year through the reserve list of the 2021 National Thematic Call.

I am confident that the topic of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, which the Deputy refers to, will continue to be in scope in future research Calls by my Department.

Question No. 2107 answered with Question No. 2097.