Agriculture Minister to address IFA Farming and Climate Summit

The event will look at how the sector will address the climate challenge

placeholder image — The event will look at how the sector will address the climate challenge

The summit will bring farmers and policy makers together to figure out what's facing the industry, says Tipp farmer Tim Cullinan

The IFA will hold a Farming & Climate Summit in Thomond Park next Tues, January 10th to look at how the sector will address the climate challenge.

The keynote address for the event will be from the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue. The event will also hear from representatives from Teagasc, Bord Bia and other experts.

IFA President Tim Cullinan said the farming sector faces unprecedented policy challenges, not just on emissions, but from other policies coming down the line from Europe on re-wetting through nature restoration laws, the Sustainable Use

Directive, the Industrial Emissions Directive and more.

“A number of the new schemes including the suckler cow, sheep and environmental schemes are underfunded. Last week’s Budget was a missed opportunity to rectify this,” he said.

Tipp farmer and IFA President Tim Cullinan

“While we now have a Climate Action Plan set out by the Government, there are huge details to be worked out including what funding the Government intends to provide to help farmers adopt new measures,” he said.

“I want to make it very clear that IFA recognises the climate challenge and that our members are keen to play their part. However, it cannot be at the expense of their livelihoods,” he said.

“Much greater engagement is needed with farmers to ensure we can farm sustainably while still developing our sector and enhancing the social infrastructure in rural Ireland,” he said.