Representatives of the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) and the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) jointly met EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall in Brussels, outlining the necessity and validity of retaining Ireland’s nitrates derogation.
The delegation, led by IFA Deputy President Alice Doyle and TJ Flanagan, CEO of ICOS, emphasised the economic and environmental significance of the derogation for Ireland’s agricultural sector, in the context of the strong progress that is being achieved in water quality improvement.
The IFA and ICOS representatives presented Commissioner Roswall with the Joint Declaration made by Irish farm organisations, co-operatives and the dairy and meat processors, on what the Irish agriculture sector stands for and its solid commitment to protecting water quality and reducing emissions.
The Joint Declaration was made in September 2024 by Dairy Industry Ireland (DII), the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS), Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA), Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), Macra na Feirme and Meat Industry Ireland (MII).
The Declaration provides analysis of the importance of the nitrates derogation in enabling Irish farmers to maximise the advantages of the country’s unique grass-based dairy system while continuing to make improvements in water quality.
The retention of the derogation is vital to sustaining the €17bn agricultural sector, which supports 55,000 jobs and 17,500 dairy farms in Ireland. Its removal would not only directly impact the dairy sector but would also have a significant knock-on negative impact to other sectors of Irish agriculture.
The joint IFA and ICOS delegation highlighted that the dairy sector and Irish agriculture in general is adjusting responsibly and quickly to environmental challenges. The representatives stressed that retaining the Nitrates derogation aligns with ongoing efforts to protect and improve water quality, rather than contradicting them.
They also discussed further improvements in water quality. Initiatives such as the Teagasc Better Farming for Water Campaign, the Farming for Water EIP, ASSAP Programme, and Dairy & Meat Processor Sustainability Programmes were highlighted as key collaborative efforts between the government, industry and farm organisations to drive progress.
Speaking after the meeting, TJ Flanagan, CEO of ICOS said, “The Irish dairy sector is built on the foundation of a sustainable, grass-fed system with 96% of the dairy cow diet coming from grass. This system is globally recognised for its low carbon footprint relative to all other food producing countries worldwide. Retaining the nitrates derogation is critical in ensuring that Irish farmers can continue producing high-quality dairy and meat products while adhering to best environmental practices.”
IFA Deputy President Alice Doyle said, “Irish agriculture has worked tirelessly to adopt sustainable measures. Without the Nitrates derogation, the ability of Irish farmers to remain competitive in global markets and sustain rural communities will be severely impacted. We are fully committed to working with the Government to protect the environment and ensure water quality. The extension of the Nitrates direction will further incentivise that commitment. The message to Commissioner Roswall is that it is absolutely possible to maintain Ireland’s Nitrates Derogation at its current level, while improving water quality and meeting the requirements of the Nitrates Action Programme.”
The delegation reaffirmed the commitment of farm organisations, co-operatives and the dairy and meat processors to working alongside the European Commission and the Irish Government to ensure that Irish farm families have the certainty they need to plan for the future.
The opportunity to engage with Commissioner Roswall marks an important step in seeking the necessary policy support to sustain Irish agriculture and protect Ireland’s unique, pasture-based farming system.