Through our engagement with both the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) Monitoring Committee and Stakeholder Forum we have been advocating for Ireland to adopt and implement an ambitious and inclusive position on GAEC 2 for many years. This engagement included the publication of a detailed position paper with recommendations which we published in September 20231. We remain strongly supportive of the introduction of baseline conditionality protecting organic soils which we see as being an essential step in addressing the negative climate, water and biodiversity impacts of peatland destruction and degradation.
We are deeply disappointed with the lack of ambition within the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s (DAFM) proposal. We are also dissatisfied that after delaying the implementation of GAEC 2 in 2023 and 2024 that we are in a position where Ireland has now failed to implement the GAEC on January 1st 2025. The level of engagement with stakeholder both at a high level and on the ground has to date been totally inadequate. We believe that DAFM’s draft proposal needs to be significantly improved if it is going to protect farmed organic soils in Ireland.
We hope that the views expressed in this submission and the following recommendations will be reflected in the fifth amendment to Ireland’s CSP.
Environmental Pillar (2025) Environmental Pillar Submission in response to DAFM proposal on GAEC 2