Agriculture 'on the right path' as industry welcomes GHG emissions reduction in 2023
Lime Application, Due In And Overall Nitrogen In To Agriculture Livestock Dropped Number Reduction Of 18% Emissions Reduction Fertiliser Use, An The Reduced
Agriculture is "on the right path" according to Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue, as he welcomed a 4.6% reduction in the sector's emissions last year.
New figures from the Environmental Protection Agency show that Ireland's overall greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 6.8% in 2023, with reductions in almost all sectors. This is the lowest that greenhouse gas emissions have been in three decades, and below the 1990 baseline.
Emissions data show the largest single-year reductions in the energy and agriculture sectors and the lowest level of residential emissions since 1990, while transport emissions were below pre-Covid levels.
Agriculture emissions dropped due to an 18% reduction in fertiliser nitrogen use, reduced lime application, and an overall reduction in the number of livestock. Dairy cow numbers increased by 0.6%, however, total milk production decreased by 4.7% in 2023.
Minister McConalogue said the figures for agriculture are "very positive".
"It is very encouraging to see the work that farmers are putting in on the ground reflected in the results," he said.
"It’s important that we maintain this positive trajectory and continue in our efforts to achieve the commitment of a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for agriculture by 2030.”
Minister of State Pippa Hackett added that this reduction must be sustained, "and we need to continue rolling out schemes that we know are successful and that we know will reduce the need for chemical nitrogen".
"The Organic Farming Scheme, the Protein Aid Scheme, and the Multi-Species Sward and Red Clover Silage Measures have all played a critical role here, so we should keep expanding them," Ms Hackett said.
"The area of land farmed organically has trebled to 225,500 hectares (5% of land area) in three years, meaning that we are halfway to achieving our 2030 target of 10% of Irish agricultural land being farmed organically – I am excited to keep that good work going.”
This year has also seen the finalisation of the National Agricultural Soil Carbon Observatory, supplying the scientific infrastructure to measure GHG fluxes from soils under agricultural management.
Mr McConalogue also commented that research supported by the department in the area of feed additives such as 3-Nitrooxypropanol, (3-NOP) means that these are now at the point of being ready to roll out onto Irish farms.
3NOP product has received European Food Safety Authority approval and has been trialled on 18 Teagasc Signpost farms in the winters of 2023 and 2024. Results show up to a 30% reduction in methane indoors.
“We will continue to support the advancement of technologies to ensure the continued positive emission trajectory of the agricultural sector," Mr McConalogue said.
"It is critical that we maintain food output whilst at the same time, reducing the climate footprint and I will continue to support farmers in delivering on this dual ambition. This is critical to maintaining a viable sector that is both economically and environmentally sustainable."
Irish Farmers' Association president Francie Gorman said that while the emissions reductions show the efforts farmers are making, the drops in cattle numbers and use of fertiliser would have economic and social consequences for the sector.
“The result for 2023 means our emissions have dropped for three years in succession and is evidence that measures adopted by farmers are having an impact,” Mr Gorman said.
“While progress on our emissions targets is important, we need to achieve this through reducing emissions per unit of output. Achieving it by reducing production will have negative economic and social implications. We must get the balance right."
Among the factors that contributed to last year’s fall in emissions was a reduction in fertiliser use. “This is partly due to adopting new technologies such as multi-species swards and better use of organic nutrients," Mr Gorman continued.
"However, the increased price of fertiliser is also a factor. Less fertiliser will lead to less grass growth. In a year when the weather is unfavourable, this will have implications for output and the amount of fodder being saved.
“Reducing cattle numbers will have consequences too. Suckler cow numbers are down and milk deliveries will be down this year too. What economic activity will replace this in our rural areas?
“We need to be careful not to pursue emissions reduction as the only measure, with no regard for the economic and social consequences in rural areas.
“The issue of food security must also be kept front and centre. The world population is growing and more food will be needed. If it’s not produced in Ireland, it will have to be produced in other countries with what is likely to be a higher carbon footprint."
