Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

273 Chapter 10: Environment and Agriculture Key chapter messages 1. Agriculture is an integral part of the fabric of Irish society. It has a key role in delivering, and depends on, a healthy environment. However, our food systems are not currently meeting our sustainability targets and need urgent transformational change. 2. There are many plans and programmes in place, with positive actions being implemented at farm scale, but there is no clear evidence that the current measures will collectively achieve the scale of environmental outcomes that are needed. 3. A shared vision for 2050 for land use and the food system is urgently required. A clear pathway for the agriculture and land use sector, and adequate supports to achieve it, must be put in place. Implementation and an evidence base for assessing progress must be a priority.