Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
2153. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is working on plans to prohibit or limit ploughing on farmland in midland counties or elsewhere in the State; if so, the status of such plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44011/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWithin the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), the term conditionality refers to the legislative requirements and minimum standards that farmers in receipt of CAP payments must comply with in the period from 2023 to 2027. This replaces the so called “Cross Compliance” requirements in the current CAP.
The conditionality requirements in the CSP are implemented using two mechanisms: Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) and Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC).
The main objective of GAEC 2 is the protection of carbon-rich soils, and this requires protection of wetland and peatland to be implemented within each Member State. Ireland has indicated in the CSP that this standard will apply from 2024.
At present Ireland is working in conjunction with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre to identify the relevant lands. Ireland has examined existing data sets, but these have limitations which mean that they cannot be used to deliver a specific cartographic layer at parcel/farm level, which is required in order to implement GAEC2.
Large quantities of carbon are stored in peatlands and wetlands, and certain agricultural practices (e.g. ploughing) may have a negative impact on such soils with regard to carbon storage. The minimum standards established for management under this GAEC will be aimed at minimising carbon loss from such soils. Examples of appropriate minimum standards may include a ban on ploughing, or the use of min till/no till cultivation techniques. These will be considered following the mapping and review process.
