Heydon wants to design a CAP that's 'very fit for purpose' for Ireland
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has said he hopes to have the flexibility to build a Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) that will be "fit for purpose" for Ireland
Speaking at a BASE Ireland event, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon said: "I am a big fan of European Innovation Partnership (EIP) projects, which are being used on my own farm in south Kildare.
“I know the power of it - it’s locally led and driven by farmer knowledge.
“When we get to designing our own CAP, and hopefully, as minister for agriculture, I’ll have as much flexibility from Europe to design something that’s very fit for purpose for Ireland.”
The minister was speaking at the 'Soil Dependence', conference, which was held on Friday (July 4) in Co. Kildare, organised by Base Ireland to educate farmers about the importance of sustainable farming practices.
The minster said: “The importance of soil is rising on the policy agenda too.
“In recent years we’ve made significant investments in researching innovation to bridge knowledge gaps and to empower farmers with the tools they need to manage their soil sustainably.
“We have supported soil sampling of more than half a million hectares across all soil types.”
Speaking at the event, Minister Heydon highlighted the importance of soil in agriculture. saying: "We walk across it, we plant it, we work it, soil is not just a medium, it’s a living ecosystem.”
“Soil is central to everything we do as farmers and good soil health is central to agricultural systems.
"When we talk about soil, it generally tends to be about the crops, the grass, and all things above the ground that grow into the soil. Less often do we think about the inherent importance of what exists within our soil.
The minister went on to discuss the poor condition of the majority of European soils.
"Soil hosts approximately 25% of the biodiversity on the planet, and this vital resource is under increasing pressure." Minister Heydon said.
“It is estimated that 60% of European soils are unhealthy, and this is why sustainable soil management is so important.
“By prioritising actions that positively contribute to soil health, we can show the long-term productivity and resilience of our soils."
Base Ireland is part of an international community of farmers, agronomists, and agriculture professionals who are committed to advancing the knowledge and practice of conservation agriculture.
The primary objective of the organisation is the development of sustainable, farmer-led and profitable farming practices.
