19 August 2021
A contribution from agriculture is necessary for any ‘significant’ lowering of greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland, a recent study found.
An article published
in Agricultural Economics earlier
this month found that the EU milk quota abolition in 2015 has led to an
increase in Ireland’s livestock herd, with dairy cow numbers increasing by one
third from 2010 to 2018.
This resulted in a 50
per cent increase in milk production and an export increase, with approximately
90 per cent of Ireland’s dairy products exported.
“The major growth of
the dairy sector following the EU milk quota abolition resulted in increased
greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, which puts Ireland’s dairy sector
under pressure,” according to the study.
Food production is one of the
largest drivers of global climate change. Though in most other developed
countries, agriculture plays a much smaller relative role in economy-wide
emissions.
In Ireland, agriculture emits more
than any other sector, accounting for roughly one third of emissions. Within the EU, Ireland has the highest proportion of
greenhouse gas emissions arising from agriculture.
Reducing emissions
The study found that reductions in
greenhouse gas emissions are possible by adjusting production methods.
Increased productivity results in a
decline in emissions intensity – a one per cent increase in productivity is
associated with a decline of emission intensity by .26 per cent. So, a
potential solution is to increase the productivity, rather than increasing the
quantity of the herd.
The study says that “without
mitigation actions, farm level emissions would be even higher.” But farmers
often fail to realise their mitigation potential.
“More could be done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture,”
the authors concluded.
With an expansion of herds after the
abolition of the milk quota, Teagasc has said that reductions in
farming will be needed to hit emission targets.
The Environmental Pillar has echoed
this, calling for an end to dairy expansion. Environmental Pillar co-ordinator Karen
Cielsielski noted that cattle numbers have increased 40 per cent, by 40,000 in
the past decade.
“It’s not possible to
continue with the current level of inputs, in terms of nitrogen-based
fertilizer and feed, and outputs in emissions,” she said on RTE Drivetime.
In June, an Oireachtas committee heard that ‘better incentives’ are needed for
farmers to reduce their environmental impact. Current policies see voluntary
mitigation measures, which are likely to fail to meet short term emissions
targets.
The 2020 projections saw emissions
from agriculture remaining relatively the same, with its overall greenhouse gas emissions
increasingly slightly. In these findings, the EPA attributed the increase to the Food Wise 2025 strategy and the removal of
dairy quotas in 2015.
Although Ireland has agreed to lower
greenhouse gas emissions, “it is struggling to move in
that direction because a large share of the emissions originate from livestock
farms”, the study concluded. But if mitigation measures are implemented, it
could move in the direction of lower emissions.
By Sam Starkey
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