IFA stresses the need for measured response to global climate change

THE importance of a measured and appropriate response to climate change has been stressed by the Irish Farmers’ Association.

Munster vice president Sean O’Leary, the IFA Climate Change Working Group chairman, said global warming is a global challenge, similar to food security.

“World population is expected to grow by 35% between now and 2050. However, world food stocks have reduced from a post-WW2 level of 380 days to 57 days in 2007,” he said.

Mr O’Leary said that it is essential that Ireland’s response to climate change does not reduce the country’s ability to respond to ever increasing food demand.

“Ireland is the food island, with a farming and food export industry worth €8.6 billion annually. We produce the most environmentally sustainable beef in Europe.

“Our response to climate change needs to be considered in the context of increased food demand, depleting food stocks and the fact that Ireland accounts for 1.3% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Europe,” he said.

Mr O’Leary said that the Irish agricultural sector can do many positive greenhouse gas reduction strategies through changes in ruminant animals’ diets, carbon neutral electricity production from anaerobic digestion, micro energy generation from wind and solar, carbon sequestration from forestry and grass and bio fuel production.

“Government has an ideal opportunity in the forthcoming finance bill to put in place the appropriate incentives, which will make renewable energy production a reality for farmers participating in the climate change debate,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Gary Lanigan, Teagasc Environmental Research Centre, said Ireland is unique among the EU countries in that 26.5% of greenhouse gas emissions originate in agriculture with these dominated by methane and nitrous oxide.

He said agriculture emissions have declined slightly since 1990, unlike those from other sectors of the economy.

Dr Lanigan said there is a conflict between the requirements for food security and increased food production on the one hand, and reduced emissions from agriculture on the other hand.

Dr Lanigan warned that reductions in Irish agricultural output would simply be balanced by increased production elsewhere.