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The Agricultural Catchments Programme (ACP), which is an intensive monitoring programme of farming impacts on water quality, has been extended for a further four years to 2023.
The ACP has been in place since 2008 and is used to evaluate the impact of the nitrates derogation.
Announcing its continuation, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said: “The Agricultural Catchment Programme is also crucial in the context of future reviews of our nitrates action programme and continued success in securing Ireland’s nitrates derogation.”
Under EU regulations, member states are required to monitor the effectiveness of their nitrates regulations. The ACP, funded by the Department and delivered by Teagasc since its inception, fulfils this requirement.
Environmental data
The next phase to 2023 will be the fourth iteration of the programme. It will now also collect data on greenhouse gas emissions, ammonia emissions and soil carbon sequestration.
In a statement, the Department said: “These new developments will significantly enhance the monitoring of impacts of agriculture on our environment and aid the Department achieve our targets under the Climate Action Plan.”
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