The Irish Grain Growers Group (IGGG) has called for "the preferential procurement of native grains" by Irish farmers.

Against the backdrop of a fresh debate over imports from Mercosur countries to Ireland, the IGGG, has urged dairy and other livestock farmers to support Irish growers.

According to the group process needs to start with "a formal recognition" of the quality and low carbon footprint of the cereals and oilseeds produced locally.

Clive Carter, IGGG secretary, said: “All of this can be achieved if Ireland’s dairy co-ops and the redmeat processers, in tandem with pig and poultry processors, commit to paying a bonus to those livestock farmers who preferentially source native cereals and oilseeds.

“It is also important that the Irish government and Bord Bia fully support such an initiative".

Native grains

Carter is adamant that this is "not some form of charity" for the grain sector in Ireland.

"The additional returns made to livestock farmers can be totally justified as an economic incentive, which reflects the carbon footprint reductions that can be achieved when Irish grains are included within compound feed rations.

“If, on these occasions, as little one cent per litre of these increases could be passed back to the primary grain producer, it would make an extremely positive difference for those tillage farmers committed to the growing of malting barley.”

However the IGGG secretary, said that there must be a "full verification" of the carbon footprint values generated for Irish grain to kick start the process.

Initial assessments carried out by Teagasc indicate that crops of Irish oats have a zero carbon footprint on the basis of the straw being incorporated back into the soil.

Carter said the AgNav carbon calculator can be used by tillage farmers to calculate a carbon footprint for both their entire farming business and the individual enterprises within it.

“The Grain Growers’ Group is actively encouraging all Irish tillage farmers to use the AgNav facility to calculate the carbon footprint of their respective cropping enterprises as a matter of priority.

“Teagasc has confirmed that that the digital programme has been internationally verified in full," he said.