Latest news with #AgricultureandClimateChangeConference
Agriland
a day ago
- Politics
- Agriland
Claim that emissions targets could lead to less food production
The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA) has warned that Ireland is at risk of meeting its emissions targets at the expense of rural communities, food security, and the future of farming. ICSA Rural Development chair Edmond Phelan was speaking following the Agriculture and Climate Change Conference, which was held at Dublin Castle this past week (Thursday, June 5). 'It is all very well defining success by hitting targets, but what happens when we look around and realise there are no farmers left on the land?' he commented. 'We cannot afford to lose the people, the communities, and the generations of farming knowledge that make food production possible in this country. 'There appears to be a complete lack of joined-up thinking when it comes to reaching our climate goals. 'Farmers are being squeezed from all sides – expected to cut outputs, and compete for land with energy production, solar farms, biomass, and rewetting etc. At the same time, sectors like aviation face little scrutiny,' he said. The ICSA has questioned why Dublin Airport Authority is not held accountable, for instance, when it wants to increase passenger numbers by 25%. 'It all adds up to farmers becoming increasingly frustrated by a system that demands more and more from them, with little in return,' Phelan added. 'There is an excessive fixation on agricultural emissions, while the carbon being sequestered every day on farms – through hedgerows, grasslands, and soils – is being completely ignored. 'The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in particular, shows no real interest in acknowledging this reality. It's a clear case of not being able to see the forest for the trees, and farmers are expected to just accept that policy is being shaped without seeing the full picture.' Food production The farm organisation has said that food security must not be forgotten in the climate debate and that policymakers and the public cannot lose sight of the fact that there is a growing global population to feed. 'We need climate plans that reflect the complexity of land use, respects the role of farmers, and gives them real tools to be a bigger part of the solution,' Phelan stated. 'Farmers want to play their part, but that goodwill will evaporate if they continue to feel vilified rather than supported.'
Agriland
3 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
The Farming Week: Cooling beef prices, Taoiseach on farmers and climate, the next CAP
The Farming Week: Cooling beef prices, Taoiseach on farmers and climate, the next CAP June 5, 2025 4:58 pm Charles O'Donnell, Francess McDonnell, Breifne O'Brien and Maitiú Monaghan bring you the biggest stories of the week in Irish agriculture from Agriland, which this week includes: Agriculture and Climate Change Conference; 20 EU agri ministers defend two-pillar CAP; Latest on beef prices; Report outlines climate change risk to agriculture; Fines for not disclosing vet medicine withdrawal; Common cranes return to Offaly bog. Don't forget to rate, review and follow The Farming Week, Agriland's weekly review of Irish agriculture, and visit for more. *This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance
Agriland
3 days ago
- Climate
- Agriland
Watch: ‘Climate change is threatening farm families'
The Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, today (June 5) warned that climate change is 'threatening the sustainability of 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.
