Watch: ‘Climate change is threatening farm families'
Speaking at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's (DAFM) Agriculture and Climate Change Conference in Dublin Castle today, the Taoiseach highlighted the threat posed by climate change to the agriculture community.
He said: 'The people in this room know better than most that climate change is not a distant threat, it is already changing the seasonal patterns that we have relied upon for millennia.
'Climate change is here and now, and it's having an impact. More frequent and more intense storms, prolonged dry spells, unpredictable growing seasons, and increased disease pressures, are becoming the new normal.'
'These changes threaten productivity, animal welfare, and sustainability of family farms especially in vulnerable areas,' the Taoiseach added.
The Taoiseach also acknowledged that there are challenges facing the agriculture sector, particularly regarding emissions.
He explained: 'The sector accounts for more than a third of Ireland's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
'This puts the sector in a challenging position, where it is it is both vulnerable to climate impacts, and central to Ireland's efforts to quickly reduce our contribution to climate change.'
The Taoiseach said he understands how important the nitrates derogation is to the farming community and said the government was working 'hard at EU level to ensure the best outcome for Ireland and Irish farming'.
But he cautioned that securing a continuation of the derogation 'will not be without its challenges'.
Climate change
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon also addressed the conference.
Minister Heydon believes that the DAFM conference demonstrates the 'seriousness' of which the farming sector takes the challenges of reducing emissions from agriculture.
He said: 'There is no doubt that the climate challenge we face is very significant and that climate change is already impacting us, as we saw earlier this year with Storm Éowyn.
'Today's conference is an opportunity to maintain and build on the good work being done by our researchers, farmers, advisors, innovators, and many others in the sector.'
'Providing a forum like this demonstrates our commitment to supporting knowledge exchange showcasing our research and ensuring that informs practical farming solutions and future policy developments as discussions on the future of agriculture policy across Europe'.
According to Minister Heydon, there is a need for Ireland to 'continue to be a leader and advocate' for climate-smart farming, but also for it to deliver on the growing need to increase food supply and security.
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