Malcolm Byrne
Question:40. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the implementation of the National Tillage Strategy. [51676/26]
View answerThursday, 9 July 2026
Questions (40)
Written answers
The tillage sector is an integral part of Irish farming and makes a significant contribution to overall agricultural output. This Government recognises the importance of the sector.
The report of the Food Vision Tillage Group sets out the roadmap for the sustainable growth and development of the tillage sector. Implementation of the recommendations is ongoing, with progress reviewed regularly by the Food Vision Tillage Group. The Group most recently met on 28 May, when my Department, Bord Bia and industry stakeholders provided updates on progress.
There has been considerable work done aimed at achieving greater recognition of the sustainability of Irish grain, such as the development of a tillage module for AgNav to allow growers the opportunity to showcase the low-carbon footprint of Irish grain and the ongoing work in developing a Pilot Sustainability Assurance Scheme for tillage aligned with Origin Green. Together these initiatives will allow growers to provide tangible sustainability outputs that demonstrate the low-carbon credentials of Irish grain, strengthening market differentiation and supporting access to premium markets.
There has been work done to secure new and expanded added-value opportunities for Irish grain through investment in pilot-scale production facilities such as the National Centre for Brewing and Distilling at Oak Park which opened in May 2025, and the announcement of a scheme in January 2026 administered by Enterprise Ireland supporting the establishment of new flour mill projects in Ireland.
My Department will continue to work closely with stakeholders to advance implementation of the report's recommendations, recognising that their successful delivery requires ongoing collaboration and commitment from many stakeholders across the sector.
In further recognition of the sector’s importance, my Department is providing €50 million in support to the tillage sector in 2026 through the Protein Aid Scheme, the Straw Incorporation Measure and the National Tillage Sustainability Support Scheme.
More recently, in response to the exceptional pressure arising from the sudden increase in the cost of Marked Gas Oil (MGO), my Department opened the Fuel Income Support Scheme to provide support for farmers and agricultural contractors.
The Farming for Water EIP has a budget of €60 million to support targeted on-farm additional measures to improve water quality, including establishment of cover crops. The tillage sector is also being supported under other schemes, including the Tillage Capital Investment Scheme, ACRES and the Organic Farming Scheme.
My Department remains committed to working closely with the tillage sector in implementing the actions of the Food Vision Tillage Group report with a view to ensuring the sectors long term sustainability and increasing the tillage area in the years ahead.