Global research ‘vital’ to ensure food security and to fight climate change
Yesterday’s event was the fifth in a series of conferences, the last of which was held in Banff, Canada in 2010. It is being organised by Teagasc and UCD, and supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the EPA and the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre, and Ministry for Primary Industries. The conference continues until Wednesday.
Agriculture Minister of State Tom Hayes noted that world population is set to increase to nine billion by 2050. He added that the growing middle class in countries such as China and India, will lead to a 50% increase in demand for food production by 2030.
Mr Hayes said: “Balancing the demands of producing more food to attain global food security for an ever increasing population, while at the same time combating climate change, is one of the most important challenges facing governments, industry and policy-makers alike.”
Mr Hayes said it was vital that countries with efficient systems of agricultural food production, such as Ireland, are able to increase their production in the most sustainable manner so as to meet this critical food security challenge.
The minister also cited the finding by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission that Ireland’s dairy industry has the lowest carbon footprint in Europe, while the country’s beef production is also one of the most carbon-efficient. Since 2011, the roll-out of Bord Bia’s Origin Green carbon footprint monitoring for all of its quality-assured beef farms, has further enhanced Ireland’s beef production carbon efficiency profile at international level, he said.
Mr Hayes said: “Ireland continues to build on the strengths of its green image and is deeply committed to maintain sound agricultural practices. Our aim is to maximise the food production strengths that are intrinsic to the Irish agri-food sector, particularly our environmentally-friendly grass-based production system.”
Mr Hayes said his department has invested some €20m in the Research Stimulus Programme from 2005 to 2012. This programme aims to build critical mass and expertise within the Irish research community and, most importantly, advance the scientific knowledge base.
Teagasc director of research Dr Frank O’Mara said improved efficiency can do a lot to reduce the footprint of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but added that there is also an urgent need to find breakthrough mitigation and adaptation solutions.
Dr O’Mara said Ireland has environmentally-friendly grass-based feed production systems of dairy and beef production, which provides a significant competitive advantage. This allows high- quality food production with some of the lowest food carbon intensities at EU and global level, on a per unit produced basis, he said.
Teagasc recently produced a Marginal Abatement Cost Curve for GHG emissions in Ireland, which shows the potential impact of measures such as management, improved genetics and more efficient use of resources.
Teagasc has produced a special edition of its science magazine TResearch on the GGAA Conference. This is available on www.teagasc.ie
