Govt warned of possible environmental impact of surging food-production targets

An Taisce is warning the Government to consider the environmental impact of an increase in agricultural activity.

The Department of Agriculture's Harvest Food 2020 programme has set targets of a 50% increase in milk exports and 40% in beef production.

An Taisce will hold a meeting in Nenagh this evening to highlight the issues around such targets, arguing they have the potential to affect climate change.

Chair of communications with the group Charles Stanley-Smith said there needed to be more discussion around how to avoid the environmental impact of such increases.

"Nobody's really discussed the possible environmental side effects of this (policy). We believe that needs to be brought into the arena," he said.