The Irish Government has joined forces with New Zealand to support €7 million of new research to reduce agricultural emissions.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue and Minister of State with special responsibility for research and innovation Martin Heydon announced the move yesterday.
Irish researchers leading four climate and agriculture projects will benefit from €3.6 million of the funding carved out for the 2022 Ireland – New Zealand Joint Research Call.
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The key areas they are investigating are rumen (a complex ecosystem composed of anaerobic bacteria, protozoa, fungi, methanogenic archaea and phages) microbiology for reducing greenhouse gas emissions; monitoring and emission reduction technologies; animal breeding for reduced emissions and inventory improvement.
Minister McConalogue said: “I am delighted to be able to announce, in collaboration with the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries, the awarding of over €7M in combined funding for research projects to help tackle the critical issue of enteric emissions from livestock farming.
“Awards under this new partnership reflect the significant investment that both governments are making to help ensure the future sustainability of our livestock systems.”
Minister of State Martin Heydon, added: “Ireland and New Zealand are unique in being faced with a significant challenge to reduce and offset emissions from our pasture-based, livestock farming systems.
“Research and innovation will play a key role in addressing that challenge. The collaboration we will see in these four projects, will bring together some of the best expertise, know-how, equipment and experience in both our countries and by working together, I am confident we can speed up the pace of the research and deliver solutions that the sector needs.”
Agriculture is Ireland’s single biggest greenhouse gas polluter, accounting for 37.5% of the country’s emissions in 2021.
Environmental Protections Agency figures found greenhouse gases from Irish agriculture rose 3% in 2021 following an increase of 1.3% in 2020.
The sector’s biggest contributors are animal digestion, agricultural soils and manure management.
In 2021 increased fertiliser use and liming accounted for 5.2% and 49.5% emissions rises within the sector, while a 2.8% rise in the dairy herd was also highlighted as a driver.
Agriculture must reduce its emissions 25% by 2030 under the Government’s sectoral emissions ceilings announced in summer.
NZ’s Minister for Primary Industries, Damien O’Connor, said: “New Zealand and Ireland understand the complexities of farming systems and the need to enhance productivity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“The partnership between New Zealand and Ireland, including the new projects... will allow both countries to accelerate research to deliver much-needed tools and technology to farmers to reduce their emissions.
“New Zealand and Ireland are also founding members of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases.
“We have shared interests in pasture-based farming, we co-chair the GRA Livestock Research Group, and are committed to reducing agricultural emissions globally.”
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