We should keep our nerve over the Irish agricultural sector’s vulnerability to swingeing penalties under new EU greenhouse gas rules.

Internationally, it’s very clear that in individual countries, the role of agriculture is being reassessed.

A good example is Canada and New Zealand. Both countries are relevant to Ireland. New Zealand is even more of an outlier in relation to the proportion of greenhouse gases than Ireland, with approximately 50% of its emissions being accounted for by agriculture.

The New Zealand government is now focusing on the amount of carbon produced per kg of output rather than the absolute percentage of greenhouse gases emitted as a proportion of national output and, while research will continue through genetically more efficient animals, the overall thrust of the argument has changed.

The Canadian case is even more interesting. Agriculture accounts for about 10% of total Canadian greenhouse gas production. The key state of Alberta has now moved to exempt agriculture from any penalties but will give incentives for greenhouse gas-friendly practise such as direct, no-till drilling in the tillage sector.

Here in Ireland, research is continuing and it’s very clear that real progress is being made.

Ammonia

The control of ammonia is the most striking, where reductions of over 90% in ammonia production are being achieved by new developments in slurry additives, fertiliser formulation and land-spreading techniques.

I was surprised to hear this figure being given by Teagasc’s highly respected Gary Lanigan at the RDS awards ceremony last week.

This 90% reduction figure that’s possible in the case of ammonia means that the spherical balloon-like structures we see in some continental countries, especially Denmark, are not going to be necessary in the future.

Slurry additives can also reduce methane by up to 80% and of course, sequestration by forestry is counted to meet our 2030 targets. This is an evolving area – there is, at this stage, no reason why Ireland should not continue to aim for growth in high-quality agricultural output.