THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN Ireland and dairy has existed on this island for 6,000 years. Aside from being used for milk, cheese and meat, cows even acted as the most common form of currency here until the 13th century.
As well as being useful as a bartering tool, dairy is key to a balanced diet. The Irish government recommends between 3-5 servings of dairy every day, depending on your age.
Currently, the Irish dairy farming and processing industry supports 65,000 jobs, which is one in 40 Irish jobs. Ireland exports dairy products to over 130 countries, with €6.5 billion worth of exports annually.
Like other industries, dairy farming is modernising and responding to the threats that impact the industry and the world at large. Every business in Ireland must adapt to the danger posed by climate change, and dairy farming is no different.
The government has tasked the sector with reducing its emissions by 25% by 2030. In 2022, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, agriculture’s emissions decreased in Ireland by 1.2%, meaning the industry is on the right track and is taking steps to decrease emissions further. Overall, agriculture was responsible for 38.4% of greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland in 2022.
Alongside greenhouse gas emissions, improvements in water quality is an area that the dairy industry is focusing on and attempting to improve. Efforts to raise water quality and increase biodiversity on farms are being carried out across the country by farmers, such as through sediment traps in sloping farmyards and planting willow trees.
Take part in our quiz to see how much you know about our dairy industry and the actions being taken to ensure its future.
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