Latest news with #AgricultureandClimateChange
Irish Examiner
11-06-2025
- Science
- Irish Examiner
Call for stronger farm supports as Ireland takes leadership role in climate-smart agriculture
Department-funded research unveiled at the Dublin conference dedicated to addressing the intricate relationship between agriculture and climate change has revealed a calcium-peroxide-based feed additive that can cut indoor methane emissions by 10-28%, depending on diet, inclusion rate, and animal type. Notably, one study showed that RumenGlas was linked to a 12% improvement in growth rate and feed efficiency, alongside a 10% reduction in methane emissions - the first time this dual benefit has been observed in Ireland. Since 2020, the Department of Agriculture has invested over €48m in research to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from farming. This includes 28 active projects and 132 research positions created in 2023–2024. The conference, titled 'Agriculture and Climate Change: Science into Action' took place at Dublin Castle. Hosted by minister for agriculture, food and the marine, Martin Heydon, and minister of state with responsibility for research, Noel Grealish, it included 500 delegates who heard from national and international scientists on the latest research to reduce agricultural emissions and enhance carbon storage on farms across the country. It takes place alongside a meeting of the Global Research Alliance for Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, which Ireland, through the department, is currently chairing. In his opening address, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the conference represented building a "shared path forward", and one that "ensures the next generation of farmers inherits not only a liveable planet but also a thriving, competitive, and respected agricultural sector". He said: The transition to climate-smart agriculture does not need to be a burden. It is a chance to safeguard what matters most — our land, our water, our food, our planet and our future. It is a chance to show that climate action and agricultural excellence can go hand in hand — and that Irish farmers can lead the way. Addressing attendees, minister Heydon said: 'Reducing emissions from agriculture is a monumental challenge, but one that the sector is taking seriously, evidenced by the huge interest in today's conference. 'We have assembled some of the best national and international researchers, whose findings are providing the practices and technologies we need to reduce emissions, while continuing to produce food. Research funding from my department has supported world-leading agri-climate research in universities, Teagasc and other institutes across the country. "In 2023 and 2024, this funding created 132 new research positions in agriculture and climate research across 28 projects. This ensures we have some of the best research talent in the world working on these complex scientific areas. 'This conference will see a wide range of exciting research updates, including, for example, Irish research demonstrating the potential for a 10-28% reduction in methane from a feed additive, depending on the animal type, diet, and the inclusion rate of the additive. "In addition, and for the first time in Ireland, one study has demonstrated both an animal performance benefit from feeding the additive, as well as its ability to reduce methane. The challenge going forward is to bring these tools into widespread use on Irish farms – and to do that, we are working with farmers every step of the way. "Our farmers are innovators and are ready to lead on climate action – not just for Ireland, but as an example to the world.' Other research highlighted at the conference included new data from the department-funded ROADMAP project suggests genetic selection can reduce methane emissions by up to 20% with no compromise on desirable traits like growth or fertility, and big climate gains from bio-stimulants and fertiliser technologies. For example, an algal-based bio-stimulant could lower chemical nitrogen needs by 20%, while protected urea and nitrification inhibitors can cut grassland emissions by 70–89%. However, speaking at the conference, farm organisations warned that farmers needed to be adequately supported to meet the ambitious goals set out in climate targets. Irish Farmers' Association president Francie Gorman said: 'There are lots of targets, reports, projections, documents, conferences, etc, but no properly-funded plan to support farmers to reduce emissions or even to reduce the regulatory roadblocks hindering farmers trying to make environmental improvements on their farms. Examples of this include a biomethane strategy which is not fit for purpose; delays in implementing planning exemptions for nutrient storage; delays in ACRES payments; failure to properly support the tillage sector; a totally failed forestry programme; and an absence of initiatives to support the adoption of feed or slurry additives. 'The vast majority of farmers on the ground are committed to reducing emissions, but our planning system and the general unwillingness of the State to put proper supports in place is inhibiting them more than helping them,' he said. Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association president, Denis Drennan, said that despite massive challenges, Irish farmers were "completely engaged" in efforts to address climate change, and the results and data were now showing the fruits of those efforts. However, Mr Drennan stressed that farmers needed reassurance that those plans still rested on 'the three pillars' of sustainability - economic, environmental, and social. 'There are challenges ahead that will have to be faced and even leaving aside the very significant and unfair anomalies in the accountancy framework used for measuring emissions, the most obvious challenge is the ongoing failure of Government to 'step up' and support farmers in their efforts to carry through the changes that the Government itself is urging on the farmers," he said. "It's this failure of the Government to support its own policies and recommendations that is hampering even more encouraging results and data. 'Irish agriculture is leading the way globally in meeting the climate challenge, and ICMSA believes that farmers can, and will, do more if properly supported. But that's going to mean that policymakers stop overlooking the daily and real obstacles to farmers as they adopt and change and start 'going at' these obstacles in a meaningful way, whether it's destructive income volatility or animal health or margin-grabbing and unfair corporate and professional practices. "The Government has a choice: Work with farmers to make more progress or ultimately pay the fines that will be levied because Ireland falls short on the emissions targets that could have been hit if we'd had the support. "That's the choice, really, and Budget 2026 is where we'll see if the Government understands that choice and has made a decision that is logical on both the environmental and financial fronts," he said. Read More Demo farm reports 32% lower emissions with more profitable cattle
Agriland
09-06-2025
- Science
- Agriland
Watch: ‘Farmers want to do the right thing'
The senior principal research officer at Teagasc, Karl Richards has highlighted the steps being taken by Teagasc to encourage farmers to put 'the latest technology' on their farms. Richards was a panelist at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) Agriculture and Climate Change conference yesterday (June 5). Karl Richards, Teagasc He told Agriland that some farmers are 'early adopters' who want to have the latest technology on their farm. Richards said: 'It's a bit slower in the general population of farmers. Farmers are saying what's in it for me? What are the benefits? 'There is a lot of inertia in the system but by and large, farmers want to do the right thing. They want to be as green and sustainable as they can.' 'I think more work is needed from a knowledge transfer perspective, and having the right policies and regulations in place and having the right incentives across the food industry, to encourage and pay farmers to adopt some of these things,' Richards added. Teagasc Richards explained that Teagasc established a climate action strategy in 2022. He said that since then, 25 new scientists have been appointed, by Teagasc, to work on climate and biodiversity research. Richards explained: 'The studies we found around nitrogen fertiliser, we can significantly reduce emissions by reducing the amount of fertiliser that we use. 'We do that by improving soil fertility, by applying lime, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur. We do it by incorporating clover, by using low emission spreading, and using different organic services to reduce amount of nitrogen we need to grow grass.' 'The other side is about changing the formulation of the fertiliser we apply. Protected urea is research that we led a number of years ago with colleagues with in Northern Ireland, that shows we can reduce emissions from fertiliser by changing from one bag, to protected urea, we can reduce emissions by over 70%. 'New research is highlighting, if we include another inhibiter with that, we can reduce the emissions by nearly 90%,' Richards added. According to Richards, Teagasc is researching the breeding of 'low emitting animals', He believes that it can use certain additives in feeds to reduce methane emissions. Richards said: 'At the moment we're trying to tailor that for our grazing situation, which is a bit more difficult. 'We're also looking at the effects of different pasture qualities, different herbage types, there's a number of things happening.' 'Finally, on the manure side, we have developed some additives along with GlasPort Bio in Galway, which significantly reduces methane emissions from stored manure, which is an important source greenhouse gas as well,' he added.
Agriland
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Agriland
Watch: ‘It's in Europe's interest to move off fossil fuels'
The Climate Change Advisory Council's chairperson, Marie Donnelly has said that Europe should 'move off fossil fuels' to address issues with climate change. Donnelly was a panelist at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's (DAFM) Agriculture and Climate Change conference in Dublin Castle today (June 5). Climate Change Advisory Council's chairperson, Marie Donnelly She told Agriland that Ireland's climate legislation is in place, but that it is 'not fast enough, and not deep enough'. Donnelly said: 'At a European level, one of the political questions that's center stage right now is whether the commission will endorse the recommendations of the European Scientific Body for the 2040 Carbon Budget, which is a 90% reduction in emissions. 'It's quite a political discussion, members of the EU Parliament are discussing it. The commission is debating it, and we expect something in September.' The Climate Change Advisory chair believes that there is a 'greater awareness' for farming as an industry, and as a way of life, and outlined the role that the EU will play in counteracting climate change. 'It's very important that Europe, as part of it's general approach, thinks about Europe itself, it's own self sufficiency, and it's own efficiency,' Donnelly said. 'When we look at climate change in Europe, it's very pertinent. Europe is the fast warming continent in the world.' 'What is causing global warming faster than anything else? Fossil fuels. Europe has no fossil fuels. We import all of our fossil fuels. Strategically, from a competitiveness point of view, and a security point of view, it's in Europe's interest to move off fossil fuels, as it happens it works for the climate,' Donnelly added. Marie Donnelly Donnelly believes that change is necessary throughout society in order to combat climate change, and that farmers will be impacted. She said: 'To understand what change we need to make, and to support people in making that change, that includes farmers. It might be financial support, new research, new ways of doing things that allow farmers to be efficient and climate active at the same time. 'We have to think of ways to get information out to farmers. Yes it might be financial, but it's more than that, communication, education, dialogue, mutual support, farm leaders, to get message out to adopt new mechanism. 'Farmers have been adopting new methods always. This is not new for farming. If you look at farming 20 years ago, it's not the same as today. It's the nature of farming to modernise as it goes forward,' Donnelly added.
Agriland
05-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
ICMSA: Farmers ‘on board' with climate change plans
The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) president, Denis Drennan has said that despite massive challenges, Irish farmers are engaged in the effort to address climate change. Speaking at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) Agriculture and Climate Change conference, Drennan said that the results and data were now 'showing the fruits' of farmers' efforts. Drennan believes that farmers are committed and 'on board' with plans to mitigate climate change. However, he stressed that farmers needed reassurance that those plans still rested on 'the three pillars of sustainability', including economic, environmental, and social. The ICMSA president said: 'There are challenges ahead that will have to be faced, and even leaving aside the very significant and unfair anomalies in the accountancy framework used for measuring emissions, the most obvious challenge is the ongoing failure of government to step up and support farmers. 'It's this failure of the government to support its own policies and recommendations that is hampering even more encouraging results and data. 'Irish agriculture is leading the way globally in meeting the climate challenge and the ICMSA believes that farmers can, and will, do more if properly supported,' Drennan added. Climate change According to the ICMSA president, the government has to stop 'coming up with reasons for not taking action' on climate change. Drennan believes that Budget 2026 should be used to signal a 'more proactive approach'. He also called on the government to 'work with farmers to make progress' on Ireland's emission targets. Drennan said: 'Work with farmers to make more progress ,or ultimately pay the fines that will be levied, because Ireland falls short on the emissions targets that could have been hit if we'd had the support. 'Budget 2026 is where we'll see if the government understands that choice and has made a decision that is logical on both the environmental and financial fronts,' he added.
