AQW 17094/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 12/04/2021
Answered On Date: 26/04/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline (i) how he is helping to enable farmers to reduce carbon emissions resulting from their industry; and (ii) his future plans to assist the sector in reducing emissions.

Answer:

I have prioritised the development of a cross-cutting Green Growth Strategy which my Department is leading on, on behalf of the Executive. This will be a multi-decade strategy to tackle climate change and will map out the actions we must take to meet sector-specific greenhouse gas emission targets, including across the agri-food industry, which will deliver a cleaner environment, more efficient use of our resources within a circular economy and green jobs. The Green Growth Strategy will be developed in phases and a consultation on the draft Strategy to be launched will take place in advance of COP26 in Glasgow later this year, with the final Strategy being launched by March 2022.

My department continues to support farmers to adopt low-carbon farming practices through knowledge transfer, farm support schemes and scientific research.

CAFRE deliver knowledge and technology transfer advice through initiatives including Business Development Groups, Farm Family Key Skills and the new Environmental Business Development Group Programme where currently 20 groups have been set up across NI focusing on sustainable farm systems and helping farmers identify carbon reduction measures and how to help protect the environment.

The Farm Business Improvement Scheme Capital (FBIS-C) has provided almost £14.5m of grant aid in total to over 3,000 farm businesses over the first two tranches of Tier 1, which has helped support the purchase of a large range of more efficient, precision and emissions reducing technologies. Letters of Offer have begun to issue for the third tranche of Tier 1 FBIS Capital, which has a funding allocation of £15million, following the very positive response in applications received, particularly for Low Emissions Slurry Spreading Equipment.

Forest Service is leading on ‘Forests for our Future’ aiming to create 9,000 hectares of new woodland by 2030. Grant funding for creating new woodlands is provided via the Forest Expansion Scheme and a new stand-alone Small Woodland Grant Scheme to help farmers integrate woodland on their farms. Also, the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) supports carbon friendly practices through a range of measures, including peatland restoration, establishing native woodland, agro-forestry and creation of new hedgerows. There are currently over 5,000 EFS agreements in place after four tranches, and a further two tranches are planned, subject to the necessary approvals.

DAERA supports ongoing scientific research aimed at reducing agricultural emissions and enhancing carbon storage in the landscape. This includes research to more accurately account for the amount of carbon stored and sequestered in our grassland soils. Emerging evidence indicates that managed grasslands continue to sequester carbon after many decades and sequestration rates are enhanced where cattle slurry is applied, a common practice on farms in NI.

My department also supports the Agri-Forestry Greenhouse Gas Implementation Partnership’s (GHGIP) Efficient Farming Cuts Greenhouse Gases Implementation Plan aimed at tackling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture. There is a strong emphasis on improved nutrient and livestock management within the plan.

My officials will continue to develop measures of support to help farmers play their part in reducing emissions and protect the environment. Work is ongoing to develop a future agri-environment scheme which will contribute to these aims. We will also continue to progress other initiatives including plans to consult on a strategy to reduce ammonia emissions, issuing of Pollution Prevention and Control Farm Permits, promoting use of technologies like low emissions slurry spreading equipment and working with the Greenhouse Gas Implementation Partnership.