Minister of Agriculture Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue T.D., and Minister for State Senator Pippa Hackett, in recognition of the unique and strong link between agriculture and biodiversity, today announced a significant measure, the Farm Environmental Study, supporting Biodiversity measurement at farm level.
Minister McConalogue stated “I’m delighted that we have taken the initiative and engaging with farmers, the custodians of so much of our biodiversity to increase their knowledge and awareness of the biodiversity at farm level and at the same time gather important baseline data. Farmers are adapters and farmers are adopters when it comes to pioneering initiatives like these and I am excited to see the pilot open.”
Ministers McConalogue and Hackett confirmed the roll out of a pilot Farm Environmental Study (FES) that will generate a database of baseline habitat and biodiversity data at the farm level and will provide the scope for a comprehensive analysis of farm habitats and biodiversity and a baseline for future targeting of agri-environmental schemes and measures. The Pilot Stage of FES will focus on the development of methodology and the up-skilling of farmers and advisors in the roll out of farm level habitat surveys on approximately 8000 farms. The Pilot FES programme will provide the farmer with an inventory of habitats, biodiversity and environmental information about his/her own farm.
Minister McConalogue reiterated the Department’s stance that farmers are key custodians of our biodiversity. He stated “The pilot Farm Environmental Study is one of the important first steps taken to the building of a Baseline Biodiversity survey as identified in the Programme for Government.”
Minister Hackett, said, “This pilot is a new and exciting initiative. Its establishment of the unique biodiversity features and habitats present at the farm level will be invaluable. This farm-scale approach will educate and empower farmers, and build on their knowledge of their own land so that they can maximise delivery of environmental outcomes for future schemes.”
Minister McConalogue added in delivering this initiative, “Knowing just what important biodiversity resources we have on our farms is essential going forward. Supporting our farmers to actively conduct their important work, while being aware how significantly these resources can benefit the quality of their produce, while also benefitting the environment will play a critical role in our steps towards a circular economy”. The Minister added, “ FES, in combination with the recently announced REAP scheme will be important pillars to support our goals to roll over existing schemes while also incorporating the new innovative result-based approaches proven through our existing EIPs.
Minister Martin Heydon said, “I would encourage all farmers to avail of these initiatives and work with their advisors and my Department to tailor their management practices with a view to improving their environmental and economic status while also helping to set the new agricultural standard at an international level.”
This announcement of this pilot project was considered by all Ministers to be well timed to coincide with Biodiversity Week which highlights the importance of our national Biodiversity and the efforts by DAFM to work with farmers to support biodiversity through initiatives like this.
Note for Editors:
Incentive for farmer
The Pilot FES programme will provide the farmer with an inventory of habitats, biodiversity and environmental information about his/her own farm. This information will be presented to the farmer as part of the knowledge transfer element in order to educate and empower the farmer to farm in a way that is sensitive to nature on the individual farm. Each farmer will receive €200 for participation.
Upskilling of farm advisors
Up-skilling of farm advisors will be a key element in the delivery of FES. The environmental training programme for advisors will ensure that capacity is built for greater level of environmental ambition required in other future AECM schemes. Advisors will receive habitat and biodiversity training as well as updated IT and mapping skills which will be transferrable to other schemes. Farm advisor payment estimated at a minimum of €300 euro.
Policy Makers
The Pilot FES Programme will begin the process of building the baseline farm level habitat and biodiversity database and inform the future national roll out of FES. The environmental parameters will assist with targeting management practices /measures and advice to support national and EU policy such as Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), Climate Action Plan, Farm-to-Fork, Water Framework & Nitrates Directives, as well as the Biodiversity Strategy.
How will the programme operate?
The Pilot Programme is proposed to be tendered externally for delivery by a company /or consortium through the formal EU Procurement (e-tenders) protocol. DAFM will administer the farmer application process and Rank and Selection requirements for the programme through the online AgFood.ie resource.
From an operational perspective, it is planned a successful tenderer will be in place by Q 3 2021. Due to seasonal constraint of the survey work involved farm surveys will likely begin Quarter 2 in 2022. The successful tenderer will be required to develop survey methodology and to provide farm advisor training in the preparation before survey roll out.