The entire agriculture sector needs to “show it is reducing environmental negatives”, a draft chapter from the 2030 Agri-Food Strategy focusing on the environmental sustainability of the agri-food sector seen by the Irish Farmers Journal says.

It states that farmers are not just quality food producers and that they should be advocated as “front line ‘responders’ to our climate and biodiversity crises”.

The chapter focuses on seven main goals, among them a target of climate neutrality by 2050, an improvement in soil health and in turn water quality and urgent attention to restoring biodiversity.

It calls for a food-systems approach prioritising health and wellbeing, livelihoods and environmental protection, keeping a balance between food production and natural capital.

The first goal advocates for a commitment to the full implementation of Ag Climatise to reduce emissions from agriculture by 10% to 15% by 2030

The draft of the document was brought to light last week as the “Environmental Pillar”, which consists of 32 NGOs, withdrew from the 2030 Agri-Food Strategy committee weeks ahead of the document’s publication, stating that the pillar could not stand over or support the strategy.

The first goal advocates for a commitment to the full implementation of Ag Climatise to reduce emissions from agriculture by 10% to 15% by 2030, enhance carbon dioxide removals from the landscape by at least 26.8m tonnes of CO2 equivalents and reduce ammonia emissions by 5% below 2005 levels from 2030.

The draft also calls for carbon trading to be piloted.

There is also a suggestion to develop a 50-year vision of sustainable land use

“Good” ecological status is the aim in water bodies by 2027 and soil health is outlined as key to achieving this. The plan is to aim for appropriate soil fertility status in agricultural soils by 2030.

The fall in lime use is to be addressed to improve soil fertility, while a National Soils Strategy is to assess soil health parameters to inform future policies on good soil management practices.

There is also a suggestion to develop a 50-year vision of sustainable land use.

The document calls for the promotion of “regenerative agriculture” and the identification and promotion of ambassadors of the system.

Biodiversity decline

Reversing and restoring biodiversity decline is goal three. The strategy states that a baseline biodiversity survey should be carried out on every farm to inform policy.

Despite its small area, there is a large focus on tillage – which had no specific representation on the committee – to improve biodiversity.

The generation of new crop varieties using precision breeding tools is among the suggestions. However, gene-editing, the main novel breeding technique, is not currently allowed under EU law.

This section did not mention the use of clover, multispecies swards or the planting of cover crops – something with huge carbon sequestration potential.

Avoiding habitat removal was emphasised, while more targeted agri-environmental schemes are called for to protect and enhance Ireland’s habitats and species.

Forestry

The draft aims to increase forest cover by 8,000ha/year, as set out in the programme for government.

However, small forest areas such as shelterbelts and riparian planting are seen as part of the afforestation approach on the farm.

Circular, bio-based economy

The draft also comments that all sectors should examine the use of raw materials from each other’s supply chains and calls for further examination of anaerobic digestion, biogas and bio-refining as sustainable and circular bio-based systems.