Meeting the Climate Change Challenge in Agriculture Michelle - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Meeting the Climate Change Challenge in Agriculture Michelle Kearney, Climate Change and Bioenergy Policy, DAFM 22nd February 2019

Presentation messages Sustainability is central to Irish food production  Global demand for food is increasing and Irish produce is regarded as  very efficient Policy is actively engaging with agriculture – “carrot & stick” approach;  targeted approach CAP is evolving – environmental targeting  Significant challenges, including recognised low mitigation potential,  but also part of the solution An Roinn Talmhaíochta , Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Potential Climate Change Impacts An Roinn Talmhaíochta , Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Climate Change Challenge GHG Targets Renewable Energy Energy Efficiency GHG Emissions Targets Targets > 30% of GHG 20% emissions 20% Energy Efficiency emissions from reduction by 2020; 16% of energy by 2020 Agriculture demand from 30% by 2030 renewable by 2020 32.5% Energy Efficiency EU agricultural Both GHG and by 2030 emissions are approx. 32% EU target by 2030 ammonia emissions 10% projected to increase by 2030

Sustainability is key An Roinn Talmhaíochta , Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Agriculture in Ireland ~ 4.5 million hectares (of a total of 6.9 million hectares) is  dedicated to agricultural land 92.1% grassland, 6.3% cereals, 0.2% potatoes and 1.4%  other Livestock production is the primary type of farming  conducted 137,100 family held farms  The average farm size: ~ 32.5 hectares  41,200 farmers are age 65 and over, 7,400 are under 35  Average family farm income for full time farms ~€31,300  (dependent on farm type) An Roinn Talmhaíochta , Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

An Roinn Talmhaíochta , Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Current CAP & the Reform of CAP Current CAP CAP POST 2020 Pillar I –  Simplifying and modernising the policy  Direct payments to farmers on an annual basis More targeted, result and performance based  support Pillar II –  Fairer distribution of direct payments  Enhancing environmental and climate ambition  Infrastructure, Environment and Development Support 40% of CAP’s budget is expected to contribute  to climate action An Roinn Talmhaíochta , Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

GLAS BDGP Some current measures supporting Climate Friendly Farming/ Nitrates TAMS Sustainable Farming RDP 2014-2020 (CAP Pillar II payments) Knowledge Transfer Programmes inc. Health and Safety Training European Innovation Partnerships

Role of Agriculture in Energy Production and Energy Use

Energy & Agriculture Energy MACC Energy On-Farm Efficiency Energy On-Farm Generation Supplier of Bioenergy Feedstock's Sustainable Energy Agriculture Sector

Forestry > 300,000 ha planted since 1990 and €2.5 billion of state  investment to date Contributes €2.3 billion to GDP, 12,000 employed  Irish Round harvest was approximately 3.54 million cubic metres  in 2017 Nearly 4 million cubic metres of roundwood harvested each year.  This will more than double to 8 million cubic metres by 2035 Irish forests have sequestered about 3.8 million tonnes of CO 2  per year from the atmosphere (2007-2016) Demand for forest products is expected to increase by 20% by  2030 across Europe An Roinn Talmhaíochta , Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Forestry: Challenges & New Incentives Afforestation  Low afforestation rates: ~ 4,000 ha in 2018 Forest Roads  Small plantations, average private grant aided 8.8 ha Woodland Improvement  Road construction in private estate Neighbourwood Knowledge transfer groups  Bioeconomy and biomass supply shortfall Forest Certification  Potential wood fibre available in RoI for energy, wood based panels and other uses to increase from ~1.9 million m 3 in 2018 Management Plans to ~ 4.2 million m 3 in 2035 An Roinn Talmhaíochta , Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Supports LED Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme Lighting Energy Efficiency Measures Heat Energy Transfer Efficiency Units Upgrades Renewable Energy T echnology Supports Biomass Solar PV Boilers Horticulture Programmes Producer Organisation Scheme Commercial Horticulture Scheme

Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Supports EIP Projects Small Biogas Demonstration Programme T otal investment Biorefinery Glas Project of €3 million Irish Biochar Cooperative Society Animal-By Product Regulations T o encourage alternative safe domestic disposal outlets including the safe use of ABP as a feed stock in biogas plants Environmentally friendly, sustainable process 10 biogas plants under DAFM regulation operation with 2 additional plants shortly

Summary Need to protect Green Credentials - BUT Significant challenges  Agriculture is a contributor to climate change, impacted by climate change, but is also part of the  solution Policy actively engaging with agriculture  Understand points of engagement – market, regulation, incentive vs tax, adaptation  Optimise use of CAP reform opportunities and next agri food strategy  The unique role of agriculture & forestry in the global climate change response is increasingly  recognised: Continued improvement in on-farm efficiencies  Maximise carbon removals  Increase contribution to energy inside and outside farm gate  An Roinn Talmhaíochta , Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Thank you climatechange@agriculture.gov.ie www.agriculture.gov.ie/ruralenvironment/climatechange/ An Roinn Talmhaíochta , Bia agus Mara │ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine