Ireland has to explore renewable energy and climate solutions, but this must be balanced by the necessity to protect sustainable food production, Macra has stated.
Reacting to the Unlocking Ireland’s Bioeconomy: A 2050 National Strategic Foresight report Macra acknowledged the contribution academic research can make to the climate debate.
“However, an 80% reduction in the suckler herd, alongside widespread rewetting and the removal of swathes of land from agricultural production, would have significant consequences for the viability of many farms, particularly in marginal areas,” a Macra spokesperson insisted.
“Macra does not agree that achieving these objectives should be based on such a large-scale reduction in suckler cow numbers,” the farm body maintained.
“Academic modelling must be considered in the context of the real-world impact on farm families and rural communities,” the spokesperson stated.
“Suckler farming is a predominantly small-scale family-farm enterprise, with herds averaging around 20 cows, and is particularly important in marginal areas where these farms contribute to both land management and rural vibrancy,” the Macra official pointed out.
“We cannot allow land abandonment to become an unintended consequence of climate policy, and any transition must recognise the wider economic and social contribution of the family farm model.”
SHARING OPTIONS