Donegal government minister, Charlie McConalogue, has described his attendance at COP28 Summit in Dubai at the weekend as a valuable opportunity to communicate the sustainable farm family food production system in Ireland as well as an opportunity to contribute to the global dialogue on sustainable food.
“As a food producing nation, it is important Irish agriculture and food is presented on the world stage,” the Minister for Agriculture for Agriculture, Food and the Marine said.
“The trip was also a timely opportunity to discuss Ireland’s leading role in advancing technologies to mitigate methane emissions, including Ireland’s achievements and world-first ability to put in place structures to genetically select animals that are lower emitters of methane without affecting production.”
Commenting on the series of bilateral meetings he held over the course of the summit, the Minister commented: “These engagements are an important opportunity to highlight the considerable work being done in Ireland to address the challenges of climate change and food security through innovation. Through sharing our experience, we hope to play a key role in the global transformation of food systems, which will be of benefit to all and lead to more sustainable environmental, social, and economic outcomes.”
Over the weekend, Ireland co-hosted an event with the COP Presidency, United Arab Emirates entitled ‘A Sustainable Food Systems Approach to Innovation for Climate Action’.
“Ireland is a leading voice in advocating for global food systems transformation, based on an appreciation of the central importance of farming, fishing, and food production to rural and coastal communities. We have strongly supported the UN Food Systems Summit process and are working with partners globally to promote sustainable food systems approaches,” the Minister said.
“Ireland’s pasture-based livestock farming and improving our overall sustainability can do a lot to contribute to climate mitigation. Irish agriculture has many natural advantages in terms of food production, in particular, a nine-month outdoor grazing season which is very rare internationally, in what is an increasingly global food supply system, but we know we can improve even more. We are, therefore, at the forefront of research nationally and internationally, driving innovation, and working with farmers and food businesses to support implementation on farms and across the value chain,” he added.
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