Ireland could be faced with the potential emergence of mega farms covering "thousands of acres" and the loss of small family farms, a group has warned.

According to Hedgerows Ireland, if left "unchecked", Ireland could see the development of mega farms with "fields of 80 to 100 acres".

It is warning that this would be at the expense of "small and medium-sized family farms which may need to expand to remain economically viable".

According to Dr. Alan Moore, secretary of Hedgerows Ireland, there is also an "environmental consequence" of land consolidation.

During a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food, Dr. Moore highlighted his group's concerns about where Irish agriculture is heading.

He said European research demonstrates "a direct relationship between farm size and field size" and the impact that land consolidation can have on the environment.

Mega farms

The Oireachtas committee had met to discuss the availablility and use of land currently in Ireland.

Dr. Moore told senators and TDs that "hedgerow removal remains a matter for concern nationally".

"Hedgerow removal eliminates these benefits. There is robust research showing a clear association between major land consolidation and hedge removal with greatly increased field sizes," he stated.

The Hedgerows Ireland secretary also underlined what his group believes is the prospect of mega farms emerging in Ireland and the the impact this would have on Irish landscapes.

It is backing calls for a Land Observatory to be established in Ireland which could create access to independent, trusted data.

"A Land Observatory is part of a range of measures needed to both monitor land acquisition and use and incentivise sustainable practices," Dr. Moore said.