Press release
Ministers McConalogue, Hackett and Heydon mark World Soil Day 2023
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
Today, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, Minister of State with responsibility for Research, Martin Heydon, and Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity, Senator Pippa Hackett, highlight the importance of healthy soils on World Soil Day. This year’s theme is Soil and Water: a source of life.
Minister McConalogue commented:
“There is a precious link between soil and water and with over 95% of our food originating from the soil, and the relationship with water is the foundation of our agricultural production.”
In addition, Minister McConalogue announced that approval letters for phase two of the Soil Sampling and Analysis Programme will issue to 7,000 farmers this week. This Programme will provide valuable information to farmers to inform decisions that promote the health of their soils and is aimed at putting soil health, soil fertility and soil carbon at the very centre of our future agricultural model.
Minister McConalogue said:
“I am delighted to see progress with the programme and I wish our new partner the Irish Soil Expert Consortium well in the delivery of the sampling, analysis and provision of approximately 90,000 soil sample results to our farmers.”
To mark World Soil Day, Minister of State Pippa Hackett recently took the opportunity to visit Thomas, Florence and David Fennelly’s farm near Emo, Co. Laois.
The Fennelly’s are dairy farmers participating in the Teagasc Signpost programme and are carrying out activities to reduce the GHG and ammonia emissions, to improve water quality, soil health and the overall biodiversity on their farm.
Minister Hackett said:
“I was delighted to hear what the Fennelly’s are doing to make their farm more sustainable. Their focus on implementing sustainable soil management practices and improving soil health on their farm is evident. Healthy soils play a crucial role in regulating water retention and availability in agriculture.”
Minister Hackett added:
“The health of the soil, and the quality and availability of water are interconnected. Both are an integral and necessary part of our lives and I welcome that World Soil Day is highlighting this important interconnection.”
Minister of State Martin Heydon stated:
“At the recent ‘Agriculture and Climate Change: Science into Action’ conference hosted by my department, I announced funding of €3.8 million for four research projects arising from the 2023 Ireland – New Zealand Joint Research Call. One of these projects is examining the implications of land management practices on organic peat soils with a particular emphasis on greenhouse gas emission reductions and will receive just over €1 million.”
Minister Heydon also used the occasion of World Soil Day to announce the signing of the European Soil Mission Manifesto. The Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme 2021-2027 is the European Union’s key initiative for funding research and one of its five missions is the ‘Soil Deal for Europe’. The Soil Mission Manifesto highlights the urgent need for action to protect soil health and the signing of the manifesto is an important element in the success of Soil Mission.
Marking his signing of the Manifesto, Minister Heydon said:
“Food Vision 2030 highlights that good soil health is critical in terms of agricultural output, producing nutrient-dense food, sequestering carbon, supporting habitats and biodiversity, and building resilience against climate change. The Soil Mission will enable research in these areas, and I am delighted to sign the Soil Mission Manifesto on this World Soil Day and believe it is an important demonstration of my department’s commitment to the Soil Mission.”
The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine supports the stated ambition of World Soil Day of raising awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being by addressing the growing challenges in soil management, increasing soil awareness and encouraging societies to improve soil health.
World Soil Day is an international day to celebrate Soil. It is held annually on 5 December as a means of focusing attention on the importance of healthy soil and advocating for the sustainable management of soil resources. World Soil Day 2023 (#WorldSoilDay) has the theme " Soil and water: a source of life".
More information on this can be found here: Ireland – New Zealand Joint Research Mechanism.
The Irish financial support for the 2023 Ireland-New Zealand Joint Research Call is being provided through the DAFM Research Programme.
The soil project referred to is titled ‘Modelling and measuring agricultural management on peat soils to enhance removals and sequestration of carbon (MAPSERS-C)’. It is being coordinated by Dr Giulia Bondi from Teagasc, Johnstown Castle, with collaboration from Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, the University of Waikato New Zealand and Landcare Research New Zealand.
The Soil Mission Manifesto aims to bring regional and local policy-makers, stakeholders and citizens together into a vibrant community that cares for soil health. It aims to foster local knowledge, innovation and investment by raising awareness that in order to protect our soils we must strive for more. Signatories of the document will recognise the need for action for soil health and will be able to engage in activities for improving soil health. They will have access to the latest research results, along with the opportunity to take part in knowledge sharing activities and events to exchange best practices for our soils.
The voluntary document can be signed by representatives of municipalities, regions, private or public companies and organisations, NGOs and philanthropic organisations, schools and education institutions, as well as by research institutions. Individuals can also sign the Manifesto and become “Friends of the Mission Soil”.
By signing the Mission Soil Manifesto, organisations and individuals can demonstrate their commitment to soil health protection and restoration and help to build momentum towards a more sustainable future.
In November 2021, the European Commission presented its long-awaited Soil Strategy for 2030. As part of this, on the 5th of July 2023, the EU proposed a new Soil Monitoring Law to protect and restore soils and ensure that they are used sustainably.
The Teagasc run Signpost programme is a multi-annual campaign to lead climate action by all Irish farmers. The programmes aims to achieve early progress in reducing gaseous emissions from Irish agriculture and also to improve water quality, maintain and improve biodiversity and to reduce costs and create more profitable and sustainable farming enterprises.
The Irish Soil Expert Consortium were awarded the contract for provision of phase 2 of the Soil Sampling and Analysis Programme following a public procurement process. The consortium comprises the following parties: National Co-op Farm Relief Services, Southern Scientific Services Limited, FBA Laboratories, Dairygold and Teagasc.