Carbon rules may limit co-ops’ ability to reach growth ambitions

The leader of the country’s agricultural co-ops has warned that their capacity to fully realise the ambitious targets in the Government’s plans for agri-food expansion over the next 10 years may be constrained by their ability to deal with the challenge of climate change.

Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) president Martin Keane was speaking at its 39th annual national conference in the Convention Centre Dublin, attended by EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan and Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney.

Mr Keane said the end of milk quotas earlier this year allowed Irish dairy farmers to take ownership of their own future for the first time in a generation.