About Ciara
I come from a Holstein Friesian dairy enterprise in Cavan. Farmed by both my parents and my grandfather Denzil, we are milking 200 cows all year around with a spring/autumn split calving ratio. I’m the eldest but my two younger brothers have just as much input in the farm as I do.
Ciara Byers was part of the UCD debating team that won the 2020 Great Agri Food debate
I have grown up with a grá for all things farming including machinery. For the past three years I have had a summer job working for a local contractor. I also have a huge passion for rugby, I started playing rugby with Virginia RFC at the age of 12 and now represent UCD.
Challenge for agriculture
“Protecting the livelihood of family farms in rural Ireland. Farmers need a price for their produce that can sustain the business and allow the business to grow and advance. Produce can’t be sold for marginal profits or as in some sectors, no profits at all as this is unsustainable in the long run. Especially now as we look at the importance of food security and how vital it is that we have a sustainable agricultural sector thriving in Ireland.
Another huge challenge is the environment and how agriculture is being targeted. Agriculture needs to be treated fairly in this situation.
The industry needs to educate the ever growing urban-rural divide. It is predicted that by 2050, 70% of the world population will be living in urban areas. Irish agriculture needs to be supported by the government and the EU as the reality of agriculture as a primary food producer is being forgotten and left behind.
Debating
The process allowed me to develop my research, communication and organisational skills. The research allowed me to look at many different topics from different angles. It helps you move away from a narrow-minded approach on topics, it is important to be able to see all sides of an argument and be able to make your own opinion.
What did you learn?
Waste: There is a massive problem with plastic in the world. We are paying a levy for recycling when we purchase agricultural plastics but are still having to pay huge prices to dispose of it when we bring it to the recycling plants. Biodigesters and low emission spreaders was another area we investigated during our research. These are the way forward. Biodigesters are very popular in Northern Ireland, however down south they have yet to take off. Why is this? We need more supports and incentives as they are very costly however would repay themselves in as little as 10 years in operation.
Veganism: The veganism issue that is growing throughout the world is a huge one. As I said before this ties back to the increase in urbanism and the population becoming more removed from agriculture.
CAP: If there were greater profits farmers would be more willing to invest in environmental change. Schemes wouldn’t be as heavily relied on as a source of income, they would be seen as ways of changing our industry. We need to be able to adapt.
Policy
The government should fund schemes to educate people of where their food comes from. Show them that what farmers do isn’t cruel and animal welfare in Ireland is at the heart of the farm. People are being led by misinformation and they can’t figure out what is truth and what isn’t.
Opportunities
There is huge scope for agriculture to be part of the environmental solution. Farmers have always been innovative and willing to adopt new technologies however this must be supported by governments and the EU. Ideas such as biodigesters would allow farmers to be more environmentally friendly while creating much needed revenue for rural Ireland.
Read more
'Having no small farmers just would not work in Ireland'
‘The biggest landfill on the planet is in the ocean‘
About Ciara
I come from a Holstein Friesian dairy enterprise in Cavan. Farmed by both my parents and my grandfather Denzil, we are milking 200 cows all year around with a spring/autumn split calving ratio. I’m the eldest but my two younger brothers have just as much input in the farm as I do.
Ciara Byers was part of the UCD debating team that won the 2020 Great Agri Food debate
I have grown up with a grá for all things farming including machinery. For the past three years I have had a summer job working for a local contractor. I also have a huge passion for rugby, I started playing rugby with Virginia RFC at the age of 12 and now represent UCD.
Challenge for agriculture
“Protecting the livelihood of family farms in rural Ireland. Farmers need a price for their produce that can sustain the business and allow the business to grow and advance. Produce can’t be sold for marginal profits or as in some sectors, no profits at all as this is unsustainable in the long run. Especially now as we look at the importance of food security and how vital it is that we have a sustainable agricultural sector thriving in Ireland.
Another huge challenge is the environment and how agriculture is being targeted. Agriculture needs to be treated fairly in this situation.
The industry needs to educate the ever growing urban-rural divide. It is predicted that by 2050, 70% of the world population will be living in urban areas. Irish agriculture needs to be supported by the government and the EU as the reality of agriculture as a primary food producer is being forgotten and left behind.
Debating
The process allowed me to develop my research, communication and organisational skills. The research allowed me to look at many different topics from different angles. It helps you move away from a narrow-minded approach on topics, it is important to be able to see all sides of an argument and be able to make your own opinion.
What did you learn?
Waste: There is a massive problem with plastic in the world. We are paying a levy for recycling when we purchase agricultural plastics but are still having to pay huge prices to dispose of it when we bring it to the recycling plants. Biodigesters and low emission spreaders was another area we investigated during our research. These are the way forward. Biodigesters are very popular in Northern Ireland, however down south they have yet to take off. Why is this? We need more supports and incentives as they are very costly however would repay themselves in as little as 10 years in operation.
Veganism: The veganism issue that is growing throughout the world is a huge one. As I said before this ties back to the increase in urbanism and the population becoming more removed from agriculture.
CAP: If there were greater profits farmers would be more willing to invest in environmental change. Schemes wouldn’t be as heavily relied on as a source of income, they would be seen as ways of changing our industry. We need to be able to adapt.
Policy
The government should fund schemes to educate people of where their food comes from. Show them that what farmers do isn’t cruel and animal welfare in Ireland is at the heart of the farm. People are being led by misinformation and they can’t figure out what is truth and what isn’t.
Opportunities
There is huge scope for agriculture to be part of the environmental solution. Farmers have always been innovative and willing to adopt new technologies however this must be supported by governments and the EU. Ideas such as biodigesters would allow farmers to be more environmentally friendly while creating much needed revenue for rural Ireland.
Read more
'Having no small farmers just would not work in Ireland'
‘The biggest landfill on the planet is in the ocean‘
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