The Climate Council Advisory Council's controversial report points out that beef produced in Ireland ranks in different places on carbon footprint, depending on the review used.
Life-cycle analysis studies indicate that Ireland has the fifth lowest carbon footprint within the EU-27 but using different methodology, Ireland was found to have the ninth highest carbon footprint within the EU-27.
A separate review of carbon footprints for global beef production regions (Canada, the US, EU, Australia and Brazil) suggests Ireland is closer to the average footprint.
Global beef demand and milk quota removal, as well as Government policies such as Food Harvest 2020 and Food Wise 2025, have directly driven the agricultural expansion, the report notes.
However, it adds that the Suckler Welfare Scheme and the Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot (BEEP) scheme, “though designed to enhance production efficiency, are administered as livestock headage payments, arguably leading to the maintenance of livestock numbers”.
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The Climate Council Advisory Council's controversial report points out that beef produced in Ireland ranks in different places on carbon footprint, depending on the review used.
Life-cycle analysis studies indicate that Ireland has the fifth lowest carbon footprint within the EU-27 but using different methodology, Ireland was found to have the ninth highest carbon footprint within the EU-27.
A separate review of carbon footprints for global beef production regions (Canada, the US, EU, Australia and Brazil) suggests Ireland is closer to the average footprint.
Global beef demand and milk quota removal, as well as Government policies such as Food Harvest 2020 and Food Wise 2025, have directly driven the agricultural expansion, the report notes.
However, it adds that the Suckler Welfare Scheme and the Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot (BEEP) scheme, “though designed to enhance production efficiency, are administered as livestock headage payments, arguably leading to the maintenance of livestock numbers”.
Read more
‘Slash suckler herd’ – climate report
Listen: large-scale suckler cull recommended by climate report
Development is about getting better, not bigger – Creed
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