FH2020 environment impact report awaited
Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said this analysis will inform more detailed plans in the FH2020 strategy to increase Ireland’s primary food output by 33%, food value-added by 40%, and food exports by 42%, between now and 2020.
The interim analysis is due within weeks. A final report is due in October. It will include the likely impacts on biodiversity, flora and fauna, water (including groundwater quality), soil, air quality, landscape, and climatic factors (including impacts on greenhouse gas emission levels), if projected targets for food industry expansion are achieved.
Teagasc experts said this week that increased agricultural output will lead to higher greenhouse gas emissions, and there is a public policy dilemma between promoting strong growth in agriculture while “decarbonising” the Irish economy.
Irish environmental campaigning groups recently said they will consider legal action to ensure environmental law is implemented during agricultural expansion. They said the agri-industry’s blueprint for expansion must meet the requirements of the EU Habitats Directive for protection of sites and species.
However, Mr Coveney says that as a strategic policy document, FH2020 is not in the category of plan or project that would require assessment of impact on particular site or sites, according to provisions of the Habitats Directive.
He explained: “Implementation of many of the key measures needed to achieve the growth figures set out in the report is a matter for private sector actors including industry and individual farmers, while co-ordination of the State contribution to Food Harvest 2020 is overseen by a High Level Implementation Committee which I chair. This committee consists of representatives from Bord Bia, Teagasc, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Enterprise Ireland, the Department of Public Expenditure Reform, the Environmental Protection Agency, and this Department.” The High Level Implementation Committee appointed the independent consultants who will report shortly on the likely environmental impacts of achieving food expansion targets, through a number of scenarios.
