Ireland to host major conference on climate change in agriculture
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon and Minister of State with special responsibility for research and development Noel Grealish have announced a major national conference on climate change in agriculture to be held this year.
The conference is taking place as part of an important gathering of the global research community working together as part of the Global Research Alliance (GRA).
The GRA has 68 member countries committed to research collaboration in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while ensuring food security.
Ireland, through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), has officially assumed the chair of the Global Research Alliance for Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA), for a period of 18 months from January 2025.
This is the first time that Ireland has chaired the GRA since joining in 2009.
Speaking on Ireland’s new leadership role, Minister Heydon said: “I see agriculture very much as a solution when it comes to climate change. Ireland’s food sector is a leader internationally in sustainable food systems.
"As chair of the GRA, we will continue this international leadership role in driving research and developing innovative technologies and practices that farmers can use to reduce emissions while at the same time, supporting resilient and secure food systems."
Minister of State, Noel Grealish added: “Ireland is honoured to be chairing this important international research alliance on an area that is a very high priority for us.
"My department invests significant resources in agricultural climate research, increasing funding in this area by 60% over the last five years.
"Taking on this new role builds on our existing international commitments, including the bilateral research initiative with New Zealand, participation in the Global Methane Hub Accelerator, and in the Agricultural Innovation Mission for Climate."
Special representative of the GRA, Dr. Harry Clark, welcomed Ireland’s leadership, saying: “International collaboration is essential in addressing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.
"Recently, a global effort involving over 60 researchers in the feed and nutrition network of the GRA published ground-breaking technical guidelines on feed additives for methane mitigation.
"This demonstrates the value of the GRA, and Ireland’s expertise and commitment to science in this area will be instrumental in helping the GRA to build on outputs such as this."
In addition to chairing the GRA, the ministers also announced their intention to host a major national conference focusing on agriculture’s role in mitigating climate change.
It will bring together national and international policy makers, researchers, advisors, farmers, industry leaders and others.
Minister Heydon said: “I am pleased to announce that my department will host this important national agricultural climate conference in Dublin Castle on Thursday, June 5, 2025.
"This will build on a similar previous conference held in November 2023 at the Aviva Stadium and hosting the conference alongside a meeting of the Council of the GRA underscores our commitment to leading global efforts in sustainable agriculture."
