The Government’s
National Mitigation Plan announced this week is well balanced. It recognises the potential for agriculture to become more carbon-efficient while at the same time ensuring the industry can grow to its full potential. The vast majority of measures outlined in helping improve carbon efficiency are also closely aligned to driving technical efficiency on farms, mainly through the better utilisation of inputs and the adoption of latest technologies.
The Government’s National Mitigation Plan announced this week is well balanced. It recognises the potential for agriculture to become more carbon-efficient while at the same time ensuring the industry can grow to its full potential.
The vast majority of measures outlined in helping improve carbon efficiency are also closely aligned to driving technical efficiency on farms, mainly through the better utilisation of inputs and the adoption of latest technologies.
There is now a real opportunity in the current CAP reform process to drive change at farm level and share best practices across a larger number of farmers.
The Government has an opportunity to ensure measures introduced under the new CAP agreement are aligned to our climate objectives. One area that requires consideration is the opportunity in reducing total emissions from livestock by reducing the age at slaughter. The introduction of an age-based slaughter premium operated on a sliding scale would deliver for the environment and improve farm profitability.
Meanwhile, it is encouraging to see the Government recognise the positive contribution that agriculture can make to our national climate plan through the production of alternative energy sources. It is important that this is built upon through proper policy and supports. The role of slurry as a feedstock for anaerobic digesters should not be ignored in this discussion.
Afforestation
The Government is right to once again highlight the significant national investment in afforestation and the role that this plays in offsetting our agricultural emissions.
There is clearly a need to ensure that Ireland achieves maximum credit for this at EU level.
We must also identify the reasons as to why, at a time when we need to grow, afforestation plantings are running 14% down on last year.
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed and his team deserve credit for ensuring a balanced position has been adopted by Cabinet in relation to climate and agriculture.
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