IFA urges more farm emission reductions

The Government’s National Mitigation Plan provides “a basis for a whole of society response” to climate change, according to the IFA.

Environment committee chairman Thomas Cooney said he also welcomed the fact that greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture have declined over the past two decades, at a time of growth and expansion. This indicates an emission-efficient development of the agri-food sector. However, farming can and will do more, he said.

Mr Cooney said the IFA-led Smart Farming initiative referred to in the mitigation plan will be scaled up in 2018.