Farm leaders have given commitment to playing a positive and constructive contribution to the reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture and the dairy sector.

A joint statement from Dairy Industry Ireland (DII), Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS), Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA), Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) and Macra na Feirme has detailed the renewed commitment.

The farm representatives have agreed to “a set of high-level principles in relation to climate action”.

Opportunity to address

Among a range of topics, the farm organisations call for increased levels of funding to support new research and the adoption of technologies to drive mitigation in agriculture.

“The Irish dairy industry should be given the opportunity and time to address the climate change challenge and to demonstrate its potential to be climate neutral by 2050,” the joint statement reads.

“This will involve increased understanding and knowledge of the potential of carbon sequestration and its interaction with management as well as the impact of GHGs such as methane.”

Commitment on funding

The farm leaders also state that Irish farmers will need significant support and assistance through the CAP, EU funding outside of the CAP budget, national exchequer support and industry supports to enable a transition to a low carbon future.

“The 2020 Programme for Government gave a commitment to provide €1.5bn in funding to a ‘REPS-2’ agri-environmental scheme over the 2021-2030 period. This Government also committed that this fund would be additional to existing CAP funding,” the statement outlined.

“It is crucial that none of this funding is diverted to meet the Irish Government’s co-financing requirements under the next CAP programme.”