What is a Deep Demonstration?
How we are transforming Ireland’s agri-food system
To successfully transform a system, we need to develop a deep understanding of the dynamics at play. If not, we risk instability and unforeseen effects, as multiple yet interconnected factors pull in different directions.
EIT Climate-KIC’s Deep Demonstration methodology is a collaborative process aiming at transforming whole places, in cities, regions and industries. By working together with all those involved – farming communities, citizens, policymakers, businesses, researchers – we go through a continuous loop of experimenting, testing and learning to find what really works (and what doesn’t) and accelerate the innovation cycle.
Our approach
Collaborate
Demonstrate
Learn
Change
Our flagship areas of innovation
Impact areas
After mapping the Irish land and agri-food system to identify key actors, issues, initiatives and opportunities, we have identified seven high-potential innovation areas underpinned by 280 on-the-ground projects. We will be implementing four of these seven frameworks between 2024 and 2025.
Click on each flagship to learn about our workplan and how you can get involved:
2050 focus
Vision 2050: re-imagine Ireland’s land and agri-food system
Grow the sector through innovation and investment in new value chains
Implement circular bio-economy models at regional or multiple value chains level
2030 focus
Diversify incomes through carbon farming and nature credit frameworks
Produce and certify climate-neutral beef
Accelerate emission reduction and sustainability in dairy farms
Grow and diversify the tillage sector
The impact of Ireland's agri-food sector
Our goals
According to the Irish Environmental Protection Agency, agriculture currently contributes 38% of the total greenhouse gases emitted in Ireland. This is almost three times the average in Europe and indicates the significance of agriculture in the Irish economy. Greenhouse gas emissions on Irish farms come primarily from:
- methane belched by cattle and sheep
- fertiliser use
- animal excrement
- diesel fuel
The latest estimates show that total emissions in the agriculture sector have increased by 15% from 1990 to 2021, mainly driven by a 17.7% increase in methane emissions from enteric fermentation and a 29.6% increase in emissions from manure management.
Agriculture is Ireland’s oldest and largest domestic sector, undergoing a 50% increase in size in the last 10 years, with food exports at a record €15.4 billion in 2021.
In 2021, the agri-food sector in Ireland:
- Employed 170,400 people, representing 7.1% of the total workforce.
- Saw a 36% increase in investment to over €1.39 billion.
- Counted 135,000 farms, 2,000 fishing vessels and aquaculture sites, and 2,000 food production and beverage enterprises.
Additional target mitigation measures for agriculture and land use by 2030
- A reduction of at least 10% in biogenic methane.
- A reduction of 5% (below 2005 levels) in ammonia emissions, to improve air quality.
- A reduction of over 50% of nitrous oxide emissions associated with chemical fertiliser.
- A reduction in nutrient losses from agriculture to water, to improve water quality by 50%.
- At least 7.5% of utilisable agricultural area to be farmed organically.
- Achieving 30% of marine protected areas, to improve seafood sustainability.
- Double the sustainable production of biomass from forests to 2 million tonnes (by 2035)
The Irish context
Insights
As part of the Deep Demonstration process, we ran several workshops with stakeholders to gather these deep insights, such as:
- Policy drivers for innovation vs. rigid and slow process for change;
- Economic benefits vs. environmental outcomes, now viewed predominantly as a cost;
- Uncertainty over policy and regulation causing inertia and hesitancy;
- Farmers’ limited negotiation power compared with other influential actors in the value chain;
- The need to foster collaboration and trust;
- Increase in renewable energy production vs. burdensome planning permissions;
- Traditions and cultural norms vs. the need for change.
The power imbalance and resulting lack of trust across some value chains has come out strongly as a key area to be addressed. The role of policy to potentially drive innovation, as opposed to the perception of being a barrier or lacking in agility to respond to needs in a timely way, also emerged strongly.
Farmers’ perception is that ‘they are unduly picked on’. Business models that reward farmers for environmental services and changes in land use are needed, while balancing and recognising their strong cultural ties to the land and livestock. These are not incompatible goals, and engagement with farmers in developing solutions is critical to foster a shared sense of ownership and commitment.
The team behind the Ireland Deep Demonstration identified the needs, assets, resources and competences, as well as external conditions, required to achieve the vision of a sustainable food system by 2030. This mapping returned a 360-degree picture:
- The overall need for healthy soils, to produce nutritious food.
- Better metrics and frameworks (that can embed a holistic approach) for a more accurate reporting on the impact of activities on the ground.
- Importance of collecting data on the current situation to support a sustainable business model for carbon farming.
- Investment and financing to support the range of interventions needed.
- New circular business models that reinforce the future vision for the sector.
- Education and knowledge management as important enablers to managing the change.
- Understanding and respect of the local population, culture and tradition.
Get in touch
Contact our team for more information on the Ireland Deep Demonstration
• Saskia Visser, Programme lead
• Stewart Gee, Carbon Farming, Dairy, Beef & Tillage lead
• Denyse Julien, Future Vision, New Value Chains & Circular Bioeconomy lead
