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

Chapter 13: Environment and Agriculture A national interim review of Ireland’s nitrates derogation was undertaken in 2019 (DAFM, 2019b). This review examined further opportunities for derogation farms to improve efficiencies and continue to reduce their environmental footprint, particularly in relation to water, climate and air quality. Several recommendations were made including the adoption of nutrient management planning, training programmes on best practice in nutrient efficiency, specific rules and requirements in relation to the spreading of slurry using low-emission spreading techniques, grass sward measurement and implementation of a minimum clover content in swards. The Teagasc Agricultural Catchments Programme was established with funding from the DAFM. It aims to evaluate the environmental and economic effects of the Nitrates Action Programme measures. The Agricultural Catchments Programme works with over 300 farmers across six water catchments, with a multidisciplinary team evaluating both the environmental and the economic effects of the Nitrates Directive and Ireland’s water quality challenges. It is currently in its fourth phase, covering the period to 2023. Sustainability Programmes Voluntary programmes operated by the sector aim to improve sustainability and reduce wastage of resources. Sustainability programmes include Agricultural Catchments, Origin Green and Smart Farming (Topic Box 13.3). Origin Green, launched in 2012, is a voluntary sustainability programme led by Bord Bia that brings together the food industry, from farmers to food producers, retailers and food service operators. According to Bord Bia the programme enables Ireland’s food industry to set and achieve measurable sustainability targets that respect the environment and serve local communities, with progress independently assessed and verified. To this end, on-farm assessments are a key component of the programme, with over 100 auditors undertaking approximately 800 audits per week. The audit criteria cover greenhouse gases, biodiversity, water measures, energy efficiency, soil management and socio-economic factors, in addition to quality assurance. To date, over 50,000 farmers are in the Sustainable Beef and Lamb Assurance Scheme and the Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme. The Sustainable Egg Quality Assurance Scheme covers 97 per cent of Irish egg production and similar schemes are being developed for other types of poultry production and pig production. Following each audit, farmers receive a feedback report detailing their performance, which is then reassessed every 18 months. In addition, over 300 companies, representing 90 per cent of Irish food and drink exports, have implemented independently verified and annually monitored sustainability plans. Topic Box 13.3 Smart Farming Smart Farming is an initiative led by the Irish Farmers’ Association in partnership with the EPA that brings together the knowledge of Teagasc, the Fertilizer Association of Ireland, the EPA, University College Dublin and others 9 . This voluntary initiative focuses on ways to reduce costs inside the farm gate and at the same time protect the environment through better resource management in eight key areas: feed, grassland, water, inputs, time management, soil fertility, machinery management and energy use. In 2018, the average cost saving on participation farms was €7,170, with an associated average greenhouse gas emission reduction of 9 per cent (IFA, 2019). The largest cost savings were seen on dairy farms. EPA and LAWPRO Focus Action to Improve Water Quality Water bodies that need improvement and protection have been prioritised as Areas for Action under the River Basin Management Plan. A large number of our water bodies require further action because of water quality issues. The EPA and the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) led a detailed programme of collaboration with local authority personnel and public bodies to determine, at a regional level, which water bodies should be prioritised as Areas for Action in the national River Basin Management Plan 2018-2021 (Chapter 7). The process was based on national water protection priorities, scientific evidence, local expertise, data and knowledge of public body staff, and local priorities such as amenity value. In total, 190 Areas for Action were identified for priority action, including 726 water bodies. Public engagement sessions on the Areas for Action are being carried out on a phased basis by the Local Authority Water and Communities Office (LAWCO). Information on where these areas are, and the reasons for their selection and when they will be addressed, is available at https://www.catchments.ie/areas- for-action/. 9 www.smartfarming.ie 341