There is “a conflict in terms of the two policy agendas being set by the State” to both grow agricultural production and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Prof Thia Hennessy of Cork University Business School told the launch of the EAT-Lancet report.

Prof Thia Hennessy of @UCC business school highlights the €2m returned to the economy for each €1m worth of suckler beef and the difficult choices ahead if we’re to bring production in line with climate targets. pic.twitter.com/TrDRzKUd7L
— Thomas Hubert ?? (@tom_hubert) April 25, 2019

After the Food Harvest 2020 and Food Wise 2025 strategies to increase agri-food exports, “to do a U-turn on that now could be very dangerous”, she said. She highlighted that every €1m in additional beef suckler output returns €2.11m to the local economy, with over 100,000 people dependent on the sector.

She warned of “difficult choices” if we want to bring beef production in line with climate targets, with options on the table including carbon quotas on the number of animals, permit trading to allow producers to buy and sell pollution rights or a carbon tax on meat.

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UCC and Teagasc economist Thia Hennessy has warned of "difficult choices" between the social and economic importance of the beef sector and its climate impact.