Ireland: Systems innovation for the transition to a climate-neutral agri-food sector
To bridge the gap between commitments and reality, the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine has partnered with Climate KIC – Europe’s largest climate innovation initiative – to work with public and private stakeholders in the Irish land and agri-food system to help accelerate its pathways to climate neutrality.
Ireland’s strategy is to achieve a climate-neutral food system by 2050, with a commitment to reduce emissions from agriculture by 25% by 2030. The Irish Climate Action Plan 2023 and the Food Vision 2030 Strategy have set out ambitious plans to reduce greenhouse gases (such as methane and ammonia), balance remaining emissions through carbon sequestration (for example through carbon farming and increased forests), and improve biodiversity, air and water quality.
Climate KIC is applying its ‘Deep Demonstration’ model of innovation to the entire agri-food and bio-based value chain, from soil to farm to fork to society. This involves working with stakeholders from both public and private sectors, including finance and education, as well as civil society, to develop and deploy coordinated innovation actions that work – in practice and at scale – and to obtain insights and lessons about a range (‘portfolio’) of solutions.
