Sustainability Update
January 2010
Outline
Emergence of Environmental Sustainability
Bord Bia research update
Life Cycle Analysis of Irish beef production
Retailers are increasingly
measuring product
footprints
Carbon measurement
Pasture - carbon sink?
Min Till / Zero tillage
Soil organic content
Methane
Feed additives
Nutrient planning
All retailers seeking to measure carbon of their products
 Inconsistent measurement can lead to incorrect comparisons
 Increasingly expecting suppliers to measure their footprint
Highlights need to have scientifically credible information
Some retailers introducing
environmental schemes
Quality Assurance
Environmental Assurance
“if act now you will be ahead of the field
and will have to do by law anyway in 4 or 5
years time ”
“The intention is to create a gap
between ourselves and the
competition”
“we think it needs to go further and
offer something extra to the
consumer ”
Aims
•
Reduce the environmental impact.
•
Reassure consumers that farmers are focused on protecting the environment.
Livestock farming in
the firing line
Sustainable Development Commissioner, Prof. Tim Lang
“Grass-fed rather than grain-fed animals are a more sustainable use of resources”
Bord Bia Research Update
Research focus to date
Three main areas
 Trade research with leading retailers/manufacturers in 2008/09
 Life Cycle Analysis of Irish Beef
 Environmental trial of QAS farms
Life Cycle Analysis
of Irish beef
Address need for scientifically credible information
Work being undertaken by Teagasc Grange
Areas being examined:





Emissions
Animal Welfare
Biodiversity
Water
Economic/social issues
Work to date has focussed on emissions and welfare
Environmental performance
of QAS farms
Objectives
Undertake trial across different beef & lamb production systems
 Develop a robust benchmark of performance
 Provide details on their overall carbon footprint
Identify strongest performing areas and those with room for improvement
Get results independently accredited
Provide producers with individual results
Aim is to develop credible
proposition
Utilise research to develop credible position
Identify key strengths of Irish livestock sector
Be able to deal with questions as they arise
Develop communications campaign