Food Production Sustainability Challenges

According to the EPA, Ireland's emissions are one of the highest in the world with the agri food sector, particularly livestock farming, being the single biggest contributor at a national level to GHG emissions (33% of national emissions).Environmental Sustainability is crucial for food production in the 21st century. An increasing global population is driving an increase in food demand, which includes a 3% increase in dairy consumption per annum. While Ireland is recognised as one of the highest achievers in farm production efficiency (i.e. efficiency per unit production), its target of increasing milk production by 50%, since the removal of milk quotas in 2015, has posed serious challenges to meeting environmental sustainability. The quota removal has resulted in a sharp increase of agricultural emissions driven by larger herds and rising milk production. Rises in dairy and dry stock herd size have exceeded gains made from policy measures on farming efficiency.

The most recent EPA report on Ireland's GreenHouse Gas Emissions Projection 2019 states that inputs from the agriculturural sector will result in national emissions rising to 34% by 2020 and 38% by 2030. The EPA states that Ireland must demonstrate substance behind its green image, ensuring that the environment is prioritised in policy choices in the agriculture sector. 

Environmental sustainability is an essential requirement for the food production systems of the 21st century and there are significant marketing and trading advantages as a result of Ireland’s ‘green’ image. However, Ireland needs to demonstrate substance behind this green image and ensure that environmental priorities are fully considered in policy and decision making in the agriculture sector. Ireland commitments to Food Harvest 2020 puts extreme pressure on our ability to meet national emission based targets. It is vital that the implementation of Food Harvest 2020 be undertaken in a manner that ensures that GHG emissions from the agriculture sector are addressed and do not overburden the other key sectors, which would have to take on further emission reductions to make up for any shortfall from this sector. Similarly, in relation to water quality, it will also be important to ensure that farming and nutrient management practices will be sufficient to prevent environmental damage to water bodies allowing Ireland to meet its international water quality obligations. Furthermore, the Climate Change Advisory Council  maintains the acknowledgment of the need for a reduced herd alongside land diversification and states that the potential release of land from beef production could support alternative uses, raise farm incomes and reduce exposure of the sector to external market shocks” (CACC, 2019).  Nevertheless, while a conversion from grassland to crop production will reduce livestock emissions, emissions from soil would also be increased (DAFM, 2019) Careful management of land use practices in agriculture and forestry will therefore be essential in tackling the negative impacts arising from the expansion and increased production envisaged under Food Harvest 2020 and the FoodWise 2025 Strategy. Please visit the Future in Food website for further information on sustainable food production for Ireland.