Staying clean and green

SERIOUS questions are being raised about the impact on Ireland’s environment of the so-called “greening’’ of the EU’s agriculture policies (CAP).

Under Food Harvest 2020, we’re set for huge growth in farm output, with plans to meet food demands which are expected to grow globally by 50% by 2030.

The latest EPA report highlights a worsening of water quality in former “pristine’’ locations and, with even more intensification of farm production, there are warnings of future problems. Our “clean and green’’ food branding image could be on the line, as if the horsemeat scandal was not enough.

A Department of Agriculture vision document to 2020 sees milk and pig meat production rising by 50%; beef and sheep output by 20%, poultry production by 10%, and fish farming by 78%.

Such huge growth raises questions like: how will all the extra waste be disposed of? Where will the necessary energy to generate production come from? And what about impacts on water, wildlife, natural habitats, soil, air quality, landscape and additional greenhouse gas emissions? Food production is heralded as a way out of recession, but achieving a balance between economic benefit and the environment is the test.

Ireland has already been firmly wrapped on the knuckles by the EU for being lax in implementing environmental regulations. It has to be said, however, that agriculture is not the only source of pollution: local authorities, forestry and household septic tanks are also among the contributors. But, a new study claims the “greening’’ of the CAP is on course to end in failure by allowing farmers to secure funding while not taking measures to protect the environment.

Basically, the study by the EEB, Europe’s largest environmental citizens organisation, concludes there will be even more complexity and administrative costs and little extra environmental benefit.

Faustine Defossez, EEB senior agriculture policy officer, commented: “The greening of the CAP must simplify rather than expensively over-complicate future delivery of environmental outcomes from agriculture.’’ The Irish Farmers’ Association has acknowledged there will be a “significant challenge’’ to meet environment issues regarding renewable energy and emissions reduction.

The Department’s vision document, meanwhile, hopes “consumers in key markets will learn to recognise implicitly that, by buying Irish, they are choosing to value and respect the natural environment.’’ Let’s hope such a lofty aspiration can be lived up to.