Sir, – Reading “Climate debate being poisoned by agriculture’s manufactured doubt and division” (Hannah Daly, Opinion & Analysis, September 1st), one might assume that the farming community has not embraced the challenge of addressing climate change. This would be at odds with the many environmental initiatives already adopted by farmers and their willingness to embrace new research findings (demonstrated by the large numbers of farmers in attendance at this week’s open day at the Teagasc Environmental Research Centre at Johnstown Castle).
Prof Daly doesn’t talk about the initiatives already in place to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (both biogenic methane and nitrous oxide, which make up the bulk of the total). Breeding programmes, fixing nitrogen in the soil with clover, reducing fertiliser use, more efficient and effective ways of spreading manure – all of this is being done now to address the sectoral reduction target.
While agriculture is indeed the largest contributor to Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions, it accounts for around 37 per cent of the total – the majority is from energy, transport, residential, industrial processes and manufacturing.
Let us not fall into the trap of believing that by forcing drastic cuts in biogenic methane (culling the national herd and curtailing an industry) we’re buying ourselves time to address the fossil fuel issue.
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All of it has to happen now – the “inevitable transition” that is mentioned.
Initial evidence indicates that biogenic methane levels in Ireland are overstated by around 15 per cent. There is growing evidence that the amount of carbon sequestered by Irish farmland is significantly underestimated. Yes, our peat soils emit CO2 but by rewetting these emissions can be greatly reduced without affecting the soil’s usage or productivity.
Ireland’s position as a low-carbon source of livestock products, serving a global market, has been repeatedly reaffirmed by world-class researchers (such as the EU Joint Research Centre). It is not the agricultural sector which is muddying the waters around research and science. – Yours, etc,
ZOË KAVANAGH
Chief Executive,
National Dairy Council,
Stillorgan,
Co Dublin.