Output increases mean EU must preserve emissions level, says ESRI

Ireland should make a case at the EU level for the development of a special mechanism for managing agricultural emissions, according to John Curtis, environmental economist with the ESRI.

He said Ireland’s plans to increase milk output by 50% and beef by 40% could increase emissions by 1m tonnes per annum. These output goals are detailed in Food Harvest 2020, the cross-sector report outlining agri-food growth ambitions.

Dr Curtis said: “Emissions from agriculture are currently 18.7m tonnes, or 30% of the national total. Agriculture emissions have fallen by 2% in the last decade but Food Harvest 2020 could reverse that.