Irish grain can help cut emissions in milk production

grains and other ingredients — many of which carry a higher carbon footprint due to lower yields, transport distances and land-use change in exporting regions. The AgNav platform, developed by Teagasc, ICBF and Bord Bia, helps farmers measure and optimise their emissions. Data from AgNav shows that Irish grain has one of the lowest carbon footprints globally, at 170–250 kg CO₂e per tonne. Incorporating straw residues improves soil carbon sequestration, with crops such as oats and winter wheat sometimes nearing a net-zero GHG balance. Fertiliser efficiency and high yields remain the main drivers of emission reductions per tonne of output. Replacing imported feed ingredients with Irish-grown cereals can substantially reduce the carbon footprint of dairy and meat production, particularly when imports originate from regions associated with deforestation. The average Irish dairy cow consumes around 1.25 tonnes of concentrate feed a year, much of which can be substituted with local ...