Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party plan to carry out a biodiversity survey on all farms, under plans outlined in the draft programme for government.

The document, seen by the Irish Farmers Journal, commits to carrying out a “baseline biodiversity survey on every farm to inform future policy development”.

It also includes plans to complete a national hedgerow survey of the country’s 630,000km of hedgerow.

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The document also includes a plan to develop climate action ‘signpost farms’ to provide on-farm experience of the benefits of farming sustainably.

There is a commitment to publish a new national pollinator plan and encourage public bodies to promote and protect biodiversity, as well as incentivising the re-wetting of carbon-rich soils.

Research and carbon tax

The draft programme for government commits to investing in research in the agri-food sector, prioritising investment in areas such as climate and the bioeconomy.

Other commitments include:

  • Explore and develop potential opportunities for farmers from anaerobic digestion.

  • Direct a proportion of the proceeds of the carbon tax towards climate-focused measures in the agri-food sector.

  • Establish an energy-efficient farming scheme to include a farm efficiency rating, educational support and grant subsidies for onsite renewable energy options and the promotion of energy-efficient technology for farm use.
  • Expand programmes such as the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP), working with farmers, industry and advisory services to deliver real improvements in water quality.

  • Review pesticide use across the agricultural sector, while acknowledging the comparatively low level of pesticide use in Ireland, and provide supports to farmers who are undertaking practices to reduce their dependence on such chemicals.

    • Flagship environmental scheme

    The document outlines plans for a flagship environmental scheme under the new CAP which is “user-friendly for farmers”, delivering broader environmental and biodiversity benefits and aligning financial support with climate, forestry and land use objectives.

    “This will be complemented by an ambitious ECO-scheme under Pillar 1 of the CAP, rewarding farmers who deliver enhanced environmental performance,” it says.

    During the talks, this has been referred to as “REPS Mark II”.