Twelve farms, north and south, are set to take part in a new cross border project which aims to help farmers produce “climate-friendly beef”.
CliBeef is a new four-year €5.75 million cross-border project that will be led by Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in Hillsborough and delivered with a number of partner organisations.
These also include Teagasc, Queen’s University Belfast, and AgriSearch.
The project is supported by PEACEPLUS – a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) – which is part of a broader initiative to support peace and reconciliation throughout Northern Ireland and the border region of Ireland
Twelve farms, one in each of the six Northern Ireland counties and one in each of the six border counties in Ireland – Donegal, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth and Sligo – will be at the core of the project.
According to the partner organisations behind the new project these farms will be key to its success and its impact as they will provide “real world evidence of how to achieve climate-friendly beef”.
Climate-friendly beef
A key focus of the project will see researchers work closely with the 12 farms to develop and trial new practical solutions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improve efficiency while maintaining production levels.
They will also examine potential solutions from novel crops to feed additives in both laboratory and field-based studies.
The participating farms will also look at options for “making their enterprises more efficient and climate friendly”.
Climate targets have been set on both sides of the border which aim for net zero GHG emissions by 2050.
Scientific evidence points to beef systems as a “significant contributor” to methane emissions across the island of Ireland.
According to the partner organisations involved in the new CliBeef project it “has the potential to contribute hugely to the agricultural sector’s response to climate challenges”.
The Northern Ireland Minister of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, also believes that “continued investment in high‑quality science” is essential to underpin a thriving, resilient and sustainable beef sector.
“This North–South cross‑border partnership exemplifies the role of collaboration in enabling the practical application of relevant and impactful scientific evidence.
“I very much welcome this CliBeef project, which brings together expertise from across the island of Ireland to support a sustainable, productive and competitive beef industry for the future,” Minister Muir said.
Meanwhile the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said the new climate-friendly beef project “places farmers at the heart of innovation, ensuring that solutions are practical, affordable and grounded in everyday farming reality”.
“Combining laboratory research with field-based trials, researchers will work closely with farmers to assess measures such as novel feed additives, alternative crops, and improved farm efficiency,” Minister Burke said.