IFA slams Swedish eco study

Reducing meat consumption in Europe will not solve global climate challenges, said IFA environment chairman Harold Kingston.

The IFA spokesman said a Swedish study suggesting Europeans would need to halve their red meat consumption for the EU to meet its carbon emission reduction targets of 20% by 2020 was “farcical”.

He said climate change researchers would do better to develop credible proposals for transport and energy, which make up 90% of the emissions in the EU, rather than pursuing unrealistic meat-free proposals.

“Simplistic proposals that EU citizens become vegetarians may get headlines but they do little to develop a coherent response to the climate challenge”, he said, noting that Irish farmers are global leaders in sustainable food production.

Mr Kingston also cited initiatives such as the IFA Smart Farming programme, the carbon audits of the 70,000 farmers participating in Bord Bia’s Quality Beef Assurance programme, and the €2bn of the Rural Development Programme budget dedicated to climate and agri-environment schemes.