In its response to a DAERA public consultation on a draft climate action plan, farmer research body AgriSearch has called for an urgent review of the Climate Change Act passed by politicians at Stormont in 2022.

That legislation, which went against expert advice from the UK Climate Change Committee (CCC), committed NI to net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. The CCC had suggested NI needed to reduce emissions by 82% as part of a “fair contribution” to an overall UK net zero target.

The AgriSearch response to DAERA points out that the CCC has since struggled to find a “credible and affordable pathway” for NI to reach net zero.

Given the unrealistic targets, it risks “undermining farmer engagement”, warns AgriSearch.

It goes on to argue the legislation has the potential to hinder economic development in NI, as recently highlighted in a High Court judgement blocking the new A5 road, which cited incompatibility with net zero targets.

However, if some targets within the Climate Change Act are “cherry-picked” for removal in order to facilitate some projects (such as the A5), “there will be even greater resistance to meeting targets set for the agri-food sector,” states the AgriSearch document.

Leakage

Among the other issues raised is a call for DAERA to ensure climate policy recognises the risk of “carbon leakage”, where local production is displaced by imports that come with higher GHG emissions.

“NI’s agri-food sector is among the most carbon-efficient food producer globally, particularly in ruminant livestock production. It therefore makes sense for NI to produce red meat and dairy from sustainable livestock farming here,” states the AgriSearch submission.

Crops

While AgriSearch does accept there is scope to increase crop and vegetable production, it argues most of NI is unsuitable and margins in these sectors have been under pressure in recent years.

“In addition, the ploughing of permanent pasture to establish arable and horticultural crops raises the prospect of the loss of a significant amount of carbon from the soil to the atmosphere,” states the document.

Methane – the key GHG from NI farming

The latest GHG statistics published by DAERA suggest that agriculture is now responsible for over 30% of total NI emissions and within the agriculture total, over 75% is due to methane released mainly by ruminant animals.

However, it is also now widely recognised that the metric mainly used to measure emissions (Global Warming Potential over 100 years – GWP100) overstates methane’s impact, especially given it breaks down in the atmosphere after 10 to 12 years. Where livestock numbers are stable, methane released today is displacing methane released 10 to 12 years ago, so there is minimal warming impact.

That is recognised in climate policies in New Zealand (NZ), where all GHGs must reach net zero by 2050, other than methane from ruminants – the current target is that it must be 24 to 47% down when compared with 2017. However, last weekend, the NZ government announced plans to change this 2050 methane target to 14 to 24% below 2017 levels.

Split-gas approach

“We consider that it would be prudent for DAERA to adopt a split-gas approach, as in NZ,” states the AgriSearch response.

In the DAERA consultation, one of the ways to cut GHG emissions from farming by 2027 is widespread adoption of methane-suppressing feed additives such as Bovaer (3NOP).

However, the AgriSearch response points out that none of the major dairy processors in NI are currently willing to lift milk from cows fed 3NOP, due to consumer concern regarding the use of artificial additives.

If Bovaer had to be fed to the NI dairy herd, AgriSearch argue it would add 1p/l to production costs, while potentially limiting access for NI dairy processors to premium markets.

Communication with farmers is lacking, says AgriSearch

Some of the concerns highlighted by AgriSearch relate to how DAERA now communicates with farmers.

As well as feed additives, the other main way identified by DAERA to cut 2027 emissions is to displace chemical nitrogen fertiliser by utilising clover. However, AgriSearch argues that to achieve this, more resources need to be targeted at clover-related research and knowledge transfer than seen to date.

The example is also given of how reducing the age at slaughter for beef animals should lead to lower emissions.

The most sustainable way to achieve this is via improved grassland management, animal genetics or better animal health, but these areas require a higher level of skills. However, the easiest option (especially for part-time farmers) is to feed more concentrate, thereby potentially locking in higher emissions.

Support

“Targeted support is needed to promote labour-efficient improvements in grassland management, animal health and genetics,” states the AgriSearch document.

It goes on to point out that the Business Development Group (BDG) programme is now finished and its replacement (Sustainable Development Groups) has been slow to get off the ground and has much lower participation levels within the beef and sheep sector.

“In addition, recent policy developments, such as the handling of the recent Nutrients Action Programme consultation, have adversely affected trust between the farming community and DAERA and AFBI,” states the AgriSearch response.

DAERA’s five-year climate action plan

The public consultation on DAERA draft climate action plan closed to responses on Wednesday 8 October.

That plan sets out the policies and proposals required across government departments to meet greenhouse gas emission reduction targets in the five-years to 2027.

Over that period, emissions must be cut by an average of 33% when compared to 1990. Between 1990 and 2022, emissions were down by over 26%.