Latest news with #FarmZeroC
Agriland
01-08-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Carbery Teams Up with European Agency to Trial New Methane Reducing Tech
Carbery has teamed up with the European climate innovation agency, Climate KIC, to trial "next-generation methane-reducing technologies" on 10 additional dairy farms in west Co. Cork. The research project has secured financial backing of €700,000 and will see the 10 farms trial new technologies, such as a treatment for improving manure management and satellite technology to map biodiversity and expand the research which is already underway as part of the Farm Zero C initiative. The Carbery group, together with BiOrbic, are among the key partners in the Farm Zero C project which aims to "create a climate-neutral, economically-viable dairy farm". The working farm acts a "living lab" for not just researchers but also farmer and policy makers. It has already trialed a number of innovations including carbon sequestration, renewable energy, low-emission slurry spreading, feed additives, regenerative agriculture, and improved herd and nutrient management. According to Enda Buckley, director of sustainability for Carbery, Farm Zero C, demonstrates that cutting emissions and maintaining profitability "can go hand-in-hand". Buckley also believes that Carbery 's FutureProof sustainability bonus - where farmers are paid a premium to "implement certain sustainability initiatives" "on their farms - also provides firsthand proof of what works. He said the new trial will give the group the opportunity "to bring these practical solutions to more farmers, faster.' According to Carbery, the project with Climate KIC will prioritise 'ready now' innovations, to reduce methane emissions rapidly "while retaining profitability". These technologies will be selected by Carbery and participating farmers and will include the Galway-based, Glasport's Bio's Slurry Abate system which "reduces methane, hydrogen sulphide, ammonia and other gaseous emissions". The first year of the new Carbery, Climate KIC project will focus on trialling technologies, "building collaboration with the first 10 farmers", collecting baseline data, and developing viable financial and narrative models. In year two, the project will be scaled, and a second farmer cohort added. According to John O'Donoghue, who is participating in the new trial, farmers have already seen "what works on one farm, as part of Farm Zero C". "This project is about taking what has been tested on one farm, and bringing it to more of them. "We will see then what works practically and what will actually make a difference to the average farmer," he added. Separately, Carbery's Farm Zero C and Climate KIC's Deep Demonstration programmes are also looking at funding models and financial supports to make methane-reduction technologies more affordable for farmers.
Irish Examiner
09-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Cork dairy giant Carbery invests €700k in new research trial on farms
A fund of €700,000 has been secured to trial methane-reducing technologies on 10 additional dairy farms in West Cork as part of ingredients and food giant Carbery's Farm Zero C research project. The Farm Zero C initiative aims to create a blueprint for an economically viable, sustainable, and carbon neutral dairy farming model. Carbery is partnering with Climate KIC, a leading European climate innovation agency, to trial the new technologies on farms. The technologies will include a treatment for improving manure management and satellite technology to map biodiversity, and expanding the research underway as part of Farm Zero C. 'We've seen first-hand through Farm Zero C and through the outcomes of our FutureProof sustainability bonus (where farmers are paid a premium to implement certain sustainability initiatives on their farms), that cutting emissions and maintaining profitability can go hand in hand,' said Carbery director of sustainability Enda Buckley. 'This project gives us the opportunity to bring these practical solutions to more farmers, faster.' Methane from enteric fermentation and manure management accounts for over two-thirds of Ireland's agricultural emissions, and almost 20% of the country's overall greenhouse gas emissions. The initiative will prioritise 'ready now' innovations, to reduce methane emissions rapidly while retaining profitability. These technologies include Glasport Bio's Slurry Abate system. The wider Farm Zero C project is also looking at funding models and financial supports to make methane reduction technologies more affordable for farmers. Finance innovator and not-for profit Bankers without Boundaries will assist in exploring financial mechanisms like carbon payments, green loans, and cooperative incentive schemes. The first year of the programme announced this week will focus on trialling technologies, building collaboration with the 10 farmers, collecting baseline data, and developing viable financial and narrative models. In year two, these insights will be scaled, and a second farmer cohort onboarded. 'We have been seeing what works on one farm, as part of Farm Zero C. This project is about taking what has been tested on one farm and bringing it to more of them. We will see then what works practically and what will actually make a difference to the average farmer," said John O'Donoghue, one of the farmers who will be participating in this trial.
Agriland
17-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
‘Valuable areas on farms' not considered as assets
There are areas of farmland beyond traditional crops and livestock products that can be considered 'capital', as they provide valuable ecosystem services if they are not depleted, according to Natural Capital Ireland (NCI). NCI is a group of organisations and individuals from academia and the public, private and non-governmental organisation (NGO) sectors interested in the development of the natural capital agenda in Ireland. The group will host a free interactive talk at Maynooth University as part of Kildare Biodiversity Week and the Kildare Public Participation Network (PPN) climate series on international Day for Biodiversity on May 22 at 6:30p.m. Natural capital NCI executive co-ordinator, Deirdre Lane said: 'When you think of hedgerows, streams, rivers, ponds, grasslands – even soil itself – there can be many more valuable areas on a farm that often aren't being considered.' Lane said this has a lot to do with how some farm payment schemes were operated in the past, but that the situation seems to be changing now. 'The natural capital approach provides a framework to account for services such as carbon sequestration, pollination, water and air quality, health and recreation and, with the right systems in place, allows landowners and farmers to get paid for them, 'National ecosystem accounts are being developed by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and projects involving our members such as Farm Zero C and FARM-NC (Farming Resilience and Management through Natural Capital) are looking at new ways to ensure these previously overlooked but vital areas are invested in, restored and protected,' she explained. The natural capital group recently collaborated with Irish Environmental Network on a report on high-level recommendations for funding nature restoration in Ireland, which included recommendations on funding the work of farmers to restore nature. Ecological consultant, Dr. Maria Fitzpatrick. Lane will be joined at the Maynooth campus School of Education talk by ecological consultant, Dr Maria Fitzpatrick, who sits on the steering committee for Natural Capital Ireland and also works with Business For Biodiversity Ireland, an organisation helping businesses to transition to a nature positive way of working. They will give a presentation on key concepts behind the United Nations (UN) ecosystem accounting framework, currently being put into practice in 90 countries globally, including in Ireland by the Central Statistics Office. According to Lane, the aim of the UN framework is to help countries integrate data on natural capital into their economic planning and policy decision-making. 'It's to clearly show the multiple benefits nature contributes to our society, vital services that currently aren't being considered in policy and business decisions such as pollination, carbon sequestration, air and water quality, recreation and cultural aspects, and the impacts this will have on our health and economy if they continue to deteriorate in the ongoing biodiversity crisis.' The NCI talk will be accompanied by two other events; a Bioblitz and insect ID workshop with Dr James Carolan of Maynooth University from 12 noon -2:00pm, meeting at the TSI entrance; and a dusk walk with Birdwatch Ireland Kildare, from 7:30pm, meeting outside the south campus gates. These events can be booked separately on the Maynooth Green Campus Eventbrite. Bird Goggle Box Meanwhile, blue tit eggs have hatched into chicks on camera, in time for Biodiversity Week at the Organic Centre in Rossinver, Co. Leitrim. One of the beautiful blue tits at the Organic Centre looks towards the camera while nurturing her eggs. 'Nesting Up Close' is an educational project in collaboration with the Irish Environmental Network was planned back in February in the lead up to Biodiversity Week, The project involved the mounting of a 'Bird Watch Ireland' bird box with camera in a suitable location at the Organic Centre. The centre team subsequently charted the progress of the box and shared images through their social media platforms. Viewers have been able to witness the initial investigation of the site by blue tit adults in early April, to a two-week period where blue tit adults made their nest comfortable with garden moss, fur and feathers, the sightings of the first eggs on April 17 to finally the hatching of the eggs on May 8. Both female and male parents now continue to work together to nurture their new fledglings. The Organic Centre – which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year – holds a mission to promote organic growing and sustainable living, sees the bird box as a great way of celebrating the milestone and of highlighting the importance of organic growing in protecting nature. Stephen Campbell, centre manager, said that by providing a safe space for nesting boxes and avoiding chemicals, their organic gardens help the blue tits thrive, and in return, the birds naturally control garden pests like caterpillars. Campbell said: 'This partnership shows how organic farming supports nature while producing great food. 'Nature and organic farming can co-exist in harmony while we grow healthy food for our local community, wildlife like blue tits help us manage pests naturally. Together, we create a balanced environment where both people and wildlife benefit.' The Organic Centre has come to prominence before for its video footage, with trail cameras on the grounds recording its wildlife, a project that started in Covid in 2020. Since then cameras spotted an array of many species from pine martin, foxes, hares, heron, swallows to name but a few. The wildlife gained national attention when the centre's trail camera captured footage of an otter and fox competing for a salmon on the Ballagh river, which runs through the grounds.
