Leinster House’s agriculture committee chairman Pat Deering has hit back at the “doom and gloom” of vegans and vegetarians’ constant attacks on the agriculture industry.
Mr Deering was speaking in the wake of research released from a new body, Meat and Dairy Facts, which busts some myths about the dangers to the environment of Irish agriculture.
The studies from the EU’s Joint Research Centre show that, in fact, Ireland has the most sustainable dairy sector in Europe and our beef farmers are in the top five too.
But a Red C survey from Meat and Dairy Facts found that less than a third, only 32% of people asked, actually know this.
Ag committee chairman Mr Deering believes we need to do more to tell the good news about Irish agriculture to battle all the recent negativity we are seeing out there.
He said: “Irish agriculture has the most efficient dairy in Europe and one of the most efficient beef sector and I don’t think this success story, this huge success story, is being told by farm organisations, by farmers in general and by government agencies.
“Over the last 10 to 15 years a lot of money has been spent on development programmes, such as the REPS (a rural sustainability scheme) programme which has been hugely beneficial.
“It has improved our waterways, to a substantial degree, and developed our hedgerows, but this isn’t always recognised.
“And the whole climate agenda, it’s not always about livestock you know, it’s about water quality as well.
“If you haven’t got good, clean water, then you’re in serious trouble.
“I think that is something that has been picked up by Meat and Dairy Facts, and I think that’s very beneficial to farmers.
“So I think we have to keep working to get the message out there that it’s not all doom and gloom in the Irish farming sector.
“There is good news to tell when it comes to the climate action agenda.”
Meat and Dairy Facts includes some of our most famous and trusted brands, including Bord Bia, the ICMSA (Irish Creamery Suppliers Association), the IFA (Irish Farmers Association) and Meat Industry Ireland.
Meat and Dairy Facts point out that Irish meat and dairy is grass-fed, with Irish pastures acting as a natural carbon sink.
On average, more than 95% of the Irish dairy cow’s annual diet is grass, whereas globally just 10% of milk production comes from grass-based systems - it’s mostly grain abroad.
Approximately 90% of Irish beef is grass fed.
The Red C survey quoted above was based on 989 main household grocery shoppers. The survey was conducted at the end of September.
