Emissions can be reduced by 50pc if farmers get help

IFA calls for cross-departmental group to tackle issue as it slams Citizens’ Assembly

AGRICULTURE has the ability to reduce its emissions by 50pc but joined-up thinking is needed by all stakeholders and across the various Government departments, the IFA has said.

In its submission to the National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-30, the IFA referred to the 2018 Teagasc Report, which stated that agriculture can reduce its emissions by nearly 50pc (to 11 million tonnes from 20 million tonnes) if it engages in mitigation activ ities and fossil fuel displacement.

The IFA said in order to achieve the carbon abatement ambition set out in the Teagasc report, a cross-departmental implementation group needed to be set up that includes all stakeholders.

The submission also rejected the Citizens’ Assembly recommendation to introduce a carbon tax on the sector and recommended that “additional incentives for farmers who sequester carbon may be a more effective approach in delivering change”.

It also hit out at the Citizens’ Assembly’s “failure” to acknowledge the existing carbon tax take of €30m from the agriculture sector, “and the fact that overall national greenhouse gas emissions have actually increased since the carbon tax was introduced”.

The IFA submission stated that increasing biomass production and implementing a fully-funded CAP will also be key to reducing emissions.

“A sustainable and profitable farming sector is required to underpin the investment and innovation required to successfully deliver a strateg y for the bio economy,” it said.

“To satisf y the growing demand for biomass, it is critical that a wellfunded Rural Development programme is agreed as part of the re-shaped CAP post2020.”

The IFA also called for the reintroduction of an “improved bioenerg y scheme”, with additional energ y crops supported.

Obligation

“While schemes such as AgroForestr y and Forest for Fibre offer huge potential, they will not be adopted at the scale required until the replanting obligation is removed,” it said.

In addition, the IFA submission stated that the development of biomass trade and logistic centres are a key priority to improving the efficiency and economic effectiveness of production, while supply chains must be created to provide a long-term market for the bio-economy.

The Farming Independent understands that the IFA has sought a meeting with the new Environment and Energy Minister, Richard Bruton, to progress their proposals.

“The Government must now lead the implementation of these measures through the establishment of a targetdriven implementation group,” said Thomas Cooney, IFA environment chair.

“Minister Creed must also ensure that any proposed CAP cuts are reversed, if farmers are expected to deliver on all the extra environmental and climate obligations.”