17 Feabh 2014, 16:33
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine will tomorrow hear from Dr Rogier Schulte, Leader in Translational Research on Sustainable Food Production at Teagasc, on land use in Ireland.
17 February 2014
The Committee is hoping to examine the most appropriate mix of policies to maximise the potential of Ireland’s diverse lands.
Chairman of the Committee Andrew Doyle TD says: “Land use is likely to be a key priority in the Committee’s work programme and tomorrow we will have an opportunity to scope our examination of the topic with the help of expert in the area Dr Rogier Schulte. Our discussions will focus on how the full potential of land in Ireland can be realised in a sustainable manner. Underlying our consideration of this issue will be how an increase in food production can be delivered under the ambitious Food Harvest 2020 targets, in line with Ireland’s greenhouse gas and climate change commitments.
“The Committee is expected to explore, for instance, how carbon efficiency can be improved in food production, including milk and beef. It is also intended to examine how our land might be most appropriately harnessed for renewable energies, such as for example the use of cutaway bog for wind farms and existing agricultural land for biofuels production. The meeting with Dr Schulte tomorrow will afford the Committee a grounding into the current land mix in Ireland and where any inefficiencies may lie. The upcoming series of hearings will flow into a Committee report on the matter.”
The meeting takes place tomorrow Tuesday 18 February at 2 pm in Committee Room 3, LH 2000 and can be viewed online here.
Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.
ENDS
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