Patricia Ryan
Ceist:2163. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce a scheme to reward farmers for storing carbon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44332/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 8 September 2022
Ceisteanna (2163)
Freagraí scríofa
My Department recognises the important role that land managers, including our farmers and foresters, will play in meeting our ambitious national climate change targets. The successful achievement of these targets will be influenced by the early adoption of innovations such as Carbon Farming.
The recent publication of the Commission's Communication on Sustainable Carbon Cycles has sent a clear signal to European Member States on the need to increase the ambition and participation of our land managers in the area of carbon removals and reductions.
The potential to reward farmers for their carbon sequestration activities is recognised under the All-of-Government Climate Action Plan 2021, which commits government to “develop an enabling framework to facilitate the roll out of a national carbon farming programme”.
As a result, my Department is currently exploring, primarily through the Carbon Farming Working Group, how an enabling framework for carbon farming can be developed. Although this work is at an early stage, the potential rewards for farmers, and society in general, are clear.
To help establish the required baseline data required for a carbon sequestration reward model, I have provided funding for initiatives such as the establishment of the National Agricultural Soil Carbon Observatory, the Pilot Soil Sampling Programme and the Farm Environmental Scheme.
I have also provided funding for a number of European Innovation Partnership (EIP) research projects based on peatsoils, to provide the required data for the development of future policy options in this area.
It should also be noted that my Department will continue to reward both farmers and landowners for delivering environmental services through afforestation funding. Of particular relevance is funding provided under the Agroforestry Scheme and also the Woodland Environmental Fund, which partners private businesses with farmers and landowners to establish native woodlands on farms, with numerous environmental services occurring as a result of this activity.
It is important that we align with developments at EU level, and I look forward to the forthcoming proposals from the European Commission on a regulatory framework for Carbon Farming.