Research that shows grassland could act as CO2 ‘sink’ welcomed

RESEARCH carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which shows that grassland could be potentially an important “sink” for carbon dioxide, has been hailed as significant by a senior office holder in the Irish Farmers’ Association.

Munster vice president Sean O’Leary said the report is based on a five-year study carried out by University College Cork and Teagasc at sites in the south-east and south-west of the country.

Mr O’Leary, who heads the IFA Climate Change Project Team, said the potential of the three million hectares of managed grassland in this country should be grasped to help in meeting our national emissions target.