http___www.teagasc.ie_gaeilge_news_2011_201102-15_g.asp_1.xml
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Ireland Best in EU for Carbon Footprint of Milk, Pork, and Poultry Meat 15 February 2011 The carbon footprint of Irish food products have been rated as amongst the best in the EU according to a major study just published by the Joint Research Centre of the EU Commission. The study entitled "Evaluation of the livestock sector contribution to the EU Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions" (GGELS) evaluated the full net carbon emissions of a range of livestock products, taking account of all on-farm emissions related to livestock rearing and the production of animal feed (even where this feed production takes place outside the EU), as well as emissions caused by providing input of mineral fertilizers, pesticides, energy, and land for the production of feed. This cradle-to-gate life cycle analysis gives a comprehensive assessment of different production systems. Irish milk has the lowest (joint with Austria) carbon footprint in the EU at 1 kg CO2-eq/kg milk, compared to the EU average of 1.4kg. According to the study, Irish pork also has the lowest carbon footprint in the EU (4.8 kg vs EU average of 7.5 CO2-eq/kg pork) as does Irish chicken (3.3 kg vs EU average of 4.9 CO2-eq/kg poultry). Other Irish animal products are also reported to have low carbon footprints. For example, Irish beef has a carbon footprint of 19 kg CO2-eq/kg beef, well below the EU average of 22.1 kg CO2-eq/kg beef, and it is the 5th lowest in the EU. In the report, the carbon footprint of Brazilian beef was estimated to be 80 kg CO2-eq /kg beef when land use change is included (and 48 kg when land use change is not considered) due to a lower productivity of beef production. Welcoming the publication of the study, Teagasc Director of Research, Dr. Frank O’Mara who was a member of the project Advisory Board, said; “This study is particularly important as it is the first time such a range of products have been compared across all EU countries in a single comprehensive study. This will help shape future policy and strategy in relation to the twin goals of food security and climate change.” “If we need extra food, Ireland is a great place to produce it because of the low carbon footprint, and we are also in good shape with water availability, biodiversity and animal welfare standards. Food and marketing companies should use this to drive export growth, especially in affluent markets that put a premium on environmental and ethical standards,” he said. This comprehensive study confirms Teagasc research that Ireland is a very efficient food producer with low carbon footprints. One key factor in this is our grass-based production system and the associated sequestration of carbon in grassland. Ireland has one of the highest proportions in the EU of grassland in its agricultural land. The GGELS report is publicly available and can be downloaded from DG AGRI at: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/analysis/external/livestock-gas/index_en.htm
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Éire an Tír is Fearr san AE maidir le Lorg Carbóin Bhainne, Mhuiceola agus Éineola 15 Feabhra 2011 Rinneadh lorg carbóin tháirgeoirí na hÉireann a rangú i measc na dtíortha is fearr san AE de réir mórstaidéir atá díreach foilsithe ag Ionad Comhpháirteach Taighde Choimisiún an AE. Rinne an staidéar, dar teideal “Evaluation of the livestock sector contribution to the EU Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions" (GGELS) glanastuithe iomlána carbóin réimse táirgí beostoic a mheas, agus aird ar an uile astú a bhíonn le sonrú ar fheirmeacha lena mbaineann tógáil beostoic agus táirgeadh bia ainmhithe (fiú nuair a thiteann an táirgeadh seo bia amach lasmuigh den AE), chomh maith le hastuithe a chruthaíonn ionchur leasacháin mhianraí lotnaidicíd, fuinneamh, agus talamh a chur ar fáil le haghaidh táirgeadh bia. Tugann an anailís seo ón ‘gcliabhán chuig an ngeata’ measúnú cuimsitheach ar chórais éagsúla táirgthe. Tá ag bainne na hÉireann an comhlorg carbóin is ísle (i dteannta na hOstaire) san AE – 1kg CO2-eq/kg bainne, i gcomparáid le meánmhéid 1.4kg an AE. De réir an staidéir seo, tá ag muiceoil na hÉireann an lorg carbóin is ísle san AE (4.8kg vs meánmhéid an EU 7.5 CO2-eq/kg muiceola) agus is amhlaidh an scéal i dtaca le sicín na hÉireann (3.3kg vs meánmhéid an AE 4.9 CO2-eq/kg éineola). Maítear go bhfuil ag táirgí eile ainmhithe na hÉireann loirg ísle charbóin. Mar shampla, tá ag mairteoil na hÉireann lorg carbóin 19kg CO2-eq/kg mairteola, agus tá seo mórán faoi bhun mhéanmhéid an AE (22.1kg CO2-eq/kg mairteola), agus is í Éire an cúigiú tír is ísle san AE dá réir seo. Meastar, sa tuarascáil, gurb é lorg carbóin mhairteoil na Brasaíle 80kg CO2-eq /kg mairteola nuair a chuirtear athrú úsáid talún san áireamh (agus 48kg gan athrú úsáid talún a chur san áireamh) de bharr táirgiúlacht níos ísle táirgthe mairteola. Bhí an méid a leanas le rá ag Stiúrthóir Taighde Theagasc, an Dr Frank O’Mara, a bhí ina bhall de Bhord Comhairleach an tionscadail, agus fáilte á cur aige roimh fhoilsiú an staidéir: “Baineann ríthábhacht leis an staidéar seo de bharr gurb é seo an chéad uair a cuireadh réimse táirgí den saghas seo i gcomparáid lena chéile ar fud uile thír an AE i staidéar cuimsitheach amháin. Tabharfaidh seo lámh chúnta chun beartais agus straitéisí amach anseo a chruthú maidir leis na comhchuspóirí slándáil bia agus athrú aeráide.” “Má theastaíonn uainn breis bia, is iontach an áit Éire le hé a tháirgeadh de bharr an loirg ísil charbóin, agus ina theannta sin, tá cúrsaí fabhracha le sonrú i dtaobh fála ar uisce, bithéagsúlachta agus caighdeáin leas ainmhithe. “Ba cheart go mbainfeadh cuideachtaí bia agus margaíochta leas as seo le tiomáint a chur faoi bhorradh ar easpórtáil, go háirithe i margaí flúirseacha a leagann préimh ar chaighdeáin chomhshaoil agus eiticiúla,” ar sé. Deimhníonn an staidéar cuimsitheach taighde Theagasc a thugann le tuiscint gur táirgeoir an-éifeachtach í Éire ag a bhfuil loirg ísle charbóin. Toisc amháin lárnach ann seo ár gcóras féarbhunaithe mar aon leis an gceapadh carbóin, lena mbaineann, i bhféarach. Tá ag Éirinn ceann de na comhréireanna is airde d’fhéarach san AE ina cuid talamh talmhaíochta. Is féidir leis an bpobal mór teacht ar an tuarascáil GGELS agus is féidir í a íoslódáil ó DG AGRI ag: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/analysis/external/livestock-gas/index_en.htm