Is there a way to square the emissions circle? Farmers want the freedom to grow their businesses while environmentalists insist that output has to be capped, and even reduced in the case of livestock, to have any hope of addressing climate change.
March 3, 2021, 4:00 pm
The Agri-Food Strategy 2030 process was always going to be difficult and complex, having as a backdrop multiple challenges and agendas.
Some of the challenges include:
• Evolving climate and environmental challenges facing the broad agri-sector;
• Legacy of 20 years of low food prices/below-cost selling impacting on farm incomes and margins;
• Covid-19 and its public health and economic impacts;
• Brexit and its trade and market diversification issues.
Balancing these complex, and in many respects conflicting imperatives, was always likely to require mature debate, goodwill and above all, a commitment to common sense-based solutions.
Unfortunately as demonstrated by the events of last week this ‘multi-stakeholder dynamic process’ is not where the Irish Environmental Pillar is comfortable.
Pressure is mounting on Irish agriculture to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as the Environmental Pillar withdraws from the 2030 Agri-Food Strategy committee.
In a letter to the Department of Agriculture, the 32-member group said the draft “falls far short” on delivering “early, steady and permanent cuts” in emissions and air pollution; to protect water quality and biodiversity; and to safeguard farmers’ livelihoods and rural areas.
“It simply does not do this, instead it is business as usual… the strategy is not something our members can stand over or support,” the Environmental Pillar wrote.
While Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said it was regrettable the Environmental Pillar exited and encouraged them to re-engage, he would not confirm whether the planned publication of the 10-year strategy will go ahead this month.
In statements to the
Farming Independent, Dairy Industry Ireland (DII) and IFA described the move as “regrettable”, while ICSA said “no strategy is worth the paper it is written on unless farmer viability is front and centre”.
Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it was not in a position to comment on the development at this time.
DII
DII director Conor Mulvihill said: “The Environmental Pillar’s withdrawal from the development of the Agri-Food Strategy 2030 is regretted. It would be far better if they remained engaged and continued to collaborate with all stakeholders to look for solutions.
“DII is on the record in saying that climate and environment are the key challenges for Irish dairy, but what is never put forward by the environmental lobby is that Irish dairy, and agriculture in general, is coming off a very high base.
No one expected the development of a new strategy for Irish agriculture to be easy.
The sector faces many challenges. These range from stagnant farm incomes and worrying generational renewal trends, to biodiversity loss and the demands of climate action measures.
With the Green Party in Government, it was obvious that, unlike strategy documents of the past, stakeholders outside the agri sector would have a stronger voice in the discussions over the Agri-Food 2030 Strategy.
It was clear these voices would challenge the very foundations of our current export and expansion-driven agri-food industry.
That is why these strategy documents appear to have taken on more significance.