EPA - Ireland's Environment, An Integrated Assessment - 2020

Chapter 13: Environment and Agriculture Ammonia and Other Air Pollutants Emanating from Agriculture The agriculture sector is almost exclusively responsible for the largest source of ammonia emissions in Ireland, accounting for 99 per cent of the national total in 2018. Significant implementation of on-farm abatement measures is needed to bring Ireland back into compliance with the current national emission ceiling and to meet the 2030 emission ceiling for this air pollutant. Agriculture is the source of a number of transboundary air pollutants, including ammonia, nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) and particulate matter, which have local, regional and transboundary effects. National emissions reduction targets exist for each of these pollutants, as outlined in Chapter 3. Similar to other European Member States, the agriculture sector is the largest source of ammonia in Ireland, accounting for 99 per cent of the national total in 2018 (EPA, 2020b). As with other gaseous emissions from the sector, the trend in ammonia emissions is largely determined by the size of the national cattle herd and extent of nitrogen fertiliser application. Emissions of ammonia from agriculture peaked in 1998 at 122.2 kilotonnes (kt), having increased by 12 per cent since 1990. Emissions subsequently reduced to 102.6 kt in 2011 before returning to an upward trajectory in response to growth plans for the sector as a result of Food Harvest 2020, Food Wise 2025 and the removal of milk quotas in 2015. Projections of ammonia emissions suggest that they will continue to grow in line with further anticipated growth in the national dairy herd (EPA, 2020b). Total national emissions in 2018 were 119.4 kt, which is above the current national emissions ceiling limit of 116 kt (Chapter 3). This was the third consecutive year in which Ireland breached its emissions target for this pollutant.The latest projections suggest that unless there is significant implementation of abatement measures at the farm level Ireland will continue to be in breach of national emissions ceiling targets up to 2030 and beyond (Topic Box 13.2). Topic Box 13.2 Teagasc marginal abatement cost curve analysis for ammonia emissions Similar to greenhouse gases, Teagasc has also produced marginal abatement cost curve analysis for ammonia emissions (Teagasc, 2015, 2020b). The most recent analysis published in September 2020 identifies 13 abatement measures with 80 per cent of the total abatement potential being met by the use of protected urea fertiliser and the use of low- emission slurry spreading techniques for cattle slurry. The report further suggests that under two of the future growth scenarios for the agriculture sector that target emission levels for 2030 will be met if the measures identified are implemented in full. As is the case for measures identified in the greenhouse gas marginal abatement cost curve analysis, the measures identified require widespread adoption and on-the-ground verification of their efficacy to be included in national emissions inventory and projection estimates. Ireland’s emissions reduction target for 2020 is a 1 per cent reduction on 2005 emission levels, with a 5 per cent reduction by 2030 from the same base. In 2020, however, emissions are projected to be 4.6 per cent above 2005 levels and, in 2030, 8.0 per cent above 2005 levels without the adoption of significant abatement measures. Every effort must now be made to implement the measures identified in the marginal abatement cost curve analysis to bring Ireland onto a pathway towards compliance with its ammonia emission target for 2030. Agricultural emissions of nitrogen oxides and NMVOCs are not accounted for in terms of compliance with agreed emissions reduction targets for these pollutants (Chapter 3). The sector is, however, an important source of emissions of both of these pollutants. Agriculture is the second largest source of nitrogen oxide emissions in Ireland (contributing 32.4% of the 2018 total), with emissions mainly associated with synthetic fertiliser application, urine and dung deposited by grazing animals and the application of manures to soils. Agriculture is the largest source of NMVOC emissions, accounting for 39.4 per cent of the national total in 2018; emissions are associated with manure management and fertiliser application to soils. 333