The campaign, which is part of a wider whole-of-government approach to improve water quality, will instill “confidence” that the actions undertaken will result in “sustained, positive improvements” in water quality, Teagasc said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Teagasc has been requested by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue to lead a multi-actor water quality advisory campaign to deliver simple and positive messaging to enhance farmers\u2019 and the agri-food industry\u2019s understanding of the agriculture pressures on water quality and the need for improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Farming for Water campaign<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A multi-actor approach, including farmers, advisors\/researchers, the agri-food industry, community, and the government, will ensure that challenges and solutions to address local water quality are delivered at farm, catchment and regional scale, Teagasc said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Better Farming for Water campaign will be delivered by way of six key pillars:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Stakeholder engagement through a multi-actor approach;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Building awareness by acquisition and utilisation of water quality data;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Upskilling farmers, students, advisors, teachers and industry professionals;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- An impactful Knowledge Transfer (KT) programme;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A supporting research programme to identify and develop effective mitigation actions;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A strong communications plan with the target audiences.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The impacts deliverable through this campaign, Teagasc said, are enhanced farmer knowledge of local water quality and pollution pressures; a reduction in nutrient, sediment, pesticide and pathogen loss to water bodies; and an improvement in the ecological status of rivers with agriculture as significant pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.agriland.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Teagasc-1024x684.jpg\")
<\/a>Minister McConalogue and Teagasc director Prof. Frank O’Mara and Teagasc researchers launching the Better Farming for Water campaign<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The campaign will build on existing water quality programmes such as the Agricultural Catchments Programme (ACP); the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES); the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP); the Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP); Waters of LIFE; Blue Dot Catchments Programme; and the Slaney project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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“This campaign and plan reinforces the vital collaboration necessary between advisors, farmers and government working towards one ambition – to ensure a sustainable agricultural sector for future generations. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
“This is just one element of the collaborative approach that I am leading on to improve water quality and maintain Ireland\u2019s nitrates derogation,” Minister McConalogue said speaking at the launch today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Teagasc director, Prof. Frank O’Mara said the buy-in from farmers, industry and the other stakeholders in the agri-sector, combined with a determination to succeed, gives him “confidence” that progress will be made on water quality.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.agriland.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Teagasc.jpg\")
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