The 3-year project will place 12 participating farms at its centre, located in each of Northern Ireland’s six counties and one in each of the six border counties in the Republic of Ireland – Co. Antrim, Armagh, Cavan, Donegal, Down, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Londonderry, Louth, Monaghan, Sligo and Tyrone.
These farms will play a crucial role in the success of the initiative by providing real-world evidence of how more climate-friendly beef production can be achieved in practical farming environments. Project leaders include: AFBI, AgriSearch, Teagasc and Queens University, Belfast.
CliBeef is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). PEACEPLUS is co-funded by the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Executive.
Researchers involved will assess a range of measures designed to reduce emissions, including alternative crops and improved farm management practices. Both laboratory research and field-based studies will be carried out, while participating farmers will also explore ways to improve efficiency and sustainability within their own enterprises.
The launch comes as governments on both sides of the border continues efforts to meet climate targets aimed at achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Beef production remains a significant contributor to methane emissions across the island of Ireland; however, methane is also recognised as a loss of energy within the animal itself.
Project leaders say that adopting innovative on-farm solutions could enable beef farmers to reduce emissions while maintaining productivity and supporting rural economies. As a result, CliBeef is expected to make a significant contribution to the agricultural sectors response to climate change by developing practical, science and field-based solutions to reduce methane emissions and lower the carbon footprint of beef production across the island of Ireland.
For more information go to the CliBeef Website. https://www.clibeef.org