The Clare Deputy said he believed the European Union should assume a lead role in the effort to ensure sustainable food production in Europe, and to achieve global food security while effectively addressing the challenges of climate change.
He commented: “These objectives will not be easy to reconcile. However, improved efficiency and productivity has already had a significant impact on Greenhouse Gas emissions from European agriculture. Much has been achieved through better farm management, progress in animal breeding and better use of fertiliser.”
Minister Killeen noted that, in Ireland’s case, efficiency improvements have led to a reduction of approximately 12% in the methane emissions associated with each tonne of milk output since 1990.
“Emissions from agriculture represent 27% of Ireland’s overall emissions and almost 40% of Ireland’s non-trading sector emissions. This is the highest level of any Member State”, he added.
“Carbon efficiency can be further improved somewhat, without reducing food production. However, the scale of the challenge of climate change, and the manner in which we choose to address it, may result in unintended negative impacts, both in terms of Europe’s role in global food production and global Greenhouse Gas emissions levels. Therefore, there should be a consolidation of European research into technologies that will deliver mitigation and assist in adapting to the changes that are unavoidable”
-ENDS-
Notes to Editor:
- High-resolution images of Tony Killeen, Fianna Fail TD for Clare, and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, with special responsibility for Forestry, Fisheries and the Marine, may be downloaded from www.dunphyprimages.com
- For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy PR at media@dunphypr.com or 086-8534900
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