Press release
Ministers McConalogue, Hackett and Heydon open phase 2 of the Soil Sampling and Analysis Programme
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
Following on from the Budget 2024 announcement, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, Minister of State with responsibility for Land Use and Biodiversity, Senator Pippa Hackett, and Minister of State with responsibility for Research & Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development, Martin Heydon, are opening phase 2 of the Soil Sampling and Analysis Programme for applications.
Announcing the Programme, Minister McConalogue said:
“I am delighted to see phase two of the soil sampling and analysis programme opening to farmers. The initial pilot programme I introduced was the most comprehensive soil analysis programme ever undertaken in this country with over 90,0000 samples analysed and 7,500 farmers involved. Phase two will now build on this success by providing valuable information to farmers to inform decisions that promote the health of their soils. Nutrient management and soil health are central to achieving economic and environmental sustainability on farms and are therefore high priorities for my department and form part of our commitments in the Programme for Government.”
This Programme is aimed at putting soil health, soil fertility and soil carbon at the very centre of our future agricultural model. Phase 2 has the potential to take another 90,000 samples from farms all over the country.
The Programme will also enable better surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) at a national and regional level by screening for the presence of ESBL E. coli. This will enhance understanding of the role of soil in the dissemination of AMR. The results of the programme will facilitate the further development of mitigation and containment strategies to address AMR within a One Health focus.
Minister of State, Pippa Hackett has also welcomed the announcement. Minister Hackett commented that:
“Soils are complex ecosystems that perform amazing functions, and this programme will increase farmer awareness and understanding of their soils which will allow them to make more targeted management decisions on their holdings. Ninety-five per cent of the food we eat starts with the soil and it is important that farmers continue to focus on improving the physical, chemical and biological properties of their soils so they can continue to produce high quality nutritional food and deliver other ecosystems services."
Minister Martin Heydon added:
“This investment builds upon the research calls that I made last year and again in recent months related to soils. I am particularly pleased that we continue to develop our national surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance in soils with the inclusion of testing for the presence of ESBL producing E. coli in the Programme."
The Soil Sampling and Analysis programme will be open to farmers across the country and the full list of eligibility criteria can be found in the Terms and Conditions.
Applications can now be made through www.agfood.ie and full details are available.
The closing date for farmer applications under the programme is 30 October 2023.