Ireland and New Zealand commit to continuing collaboration to tackle agriculture emissions

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Food Promotion, New Markets, Research and Development, Noel Grealish TD, and New Zealand Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Trade and Investment, Hon. Todd McClay, have today reaffirmed their commitment to collaboration on scientific innovation to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

Minister Grealish highlighted that Joint Research Initiative projects have helped accelerate

the understanding of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions:

“Agriculture is at the heart of the Irish and New Zealand economies, and we share the common goal of lowering emissions in pasture-based farming, while supporting farmers to produce more sustainably. During my visit to New Zealand, I was delighted to meet with Minister Todd McClay and agree to the second phase of the Joint Research Initiative that will drive meaningful reductions in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.”

Minister McClay noted,

“New Zealand and Ireland will continue to advance vital research to support the development of tools to give farmers options to tackle agricultural greenhouse gas emissions without reducing production.”

Eleven projects are underway in phase one of the Joint Research Initiative with joint investment of €19.65 million / $34.5 million. Minister Grealish visited a number of these projects during his New Zealand visit. New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries and Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will now identify further projects to progress.

Separately, the Ministers also launched the new 2026-2030 Strategic Plan for the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA).

The Strategic Plan has four priorities: advance scientific research, strengthen capacity and knowledge sharing, build effective collaboration and partnerships, and leverage financial and other resources.

Minister Grealish said:

“The GRA aims to deepen and broaden research efforts in cropping, livestock, and paddy rice. It has brought together researchers from around the globe to collaborate on science and breakthrough solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I am delighted to launch the new Strategic Plan during Ireland’s period as Chair of the GRA with Minister McClay and GRA Special Representative Peter Ettema.”

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Food Promotion, New Markets, Research and Development, Noel Grealish TD, and New Zealand Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Trade and Investment, Hon. Todd McClay signing the joint statement to the second phase of the Ireland-New Zealand Joint Research Initiative that will drive meaningful reductions in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Food Promotion, New Markets, Research and Development, Noel Grealish TD, launched the new 2026-2030 Strategic Plan for the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA) with New Zealand Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Trade and Investment, Hon. Todd McClay.