A new Publication titled ‘Advancing Innovation, Sustainability and Technical Performance of the Agri-Food Sector in 2024’ was published by Teagasc today, Monday, 27 January. This publication sets out key indicators of the performance of the main farming enterprises in the agri-food sector from a technical and productivity point of view. It also looks at farm incomes and indicators of environmental and social sustainability.
Professor Frank O’Mara, Teagasc Director said; “Good technical performance underpins farm profitability and environmental sustainability, and Teagasc research, education and advisory programmes are focused on improving the performance indicators included in this report. Weather is a key variable in agriculture, and must be kept in mind when interpreting the data.”
In terms of economic sustainability, 2024 was a good year for farm incomes despite very challenging weather conditions for the first half of the year. Incomes in all the main farming sectors are estimated to have increased in 2024 compared to 2023. This was helped by the higher farm gate prices in the second half of 2024 for milk, beef and sheepmeat, and the good grass production and grazing conditions in the autumn/early winter period.
Climate and water quality are particularly important dimensions of environmental sustainability. Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture decreased by 4.6% in 2023. Significant advances were made in 2024 in relation to the adoption of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Nitrogen (N) fertiliser use was close to the target set for 2030, while protected urea made up 26.4% of straight N use, with a target for 2030 of 95%. Research produced through the Teagasc Climate Centre is driving innovations in nutrient management, carbon sequestration, and methane reduction. Over 15,000 farmers have been enrolled in the Signpost Advisory programme by Teagasc Climate Advisors who develop farm specific plans with each farmer using the AgNav digital platform.
In relation to water quality, the EPA report for 2016 to 2021 shows that over half (54%) of Irish surface waters are in good or better ecological status. The Water Framework Directive requires all EU Member States to achieve at least good status in all water bodies by 2027. Recent EPA data indicates that nitrogen concentration in 20 selected rivers has declined in the first 6 months of 2024 relative to 2023, which is welcome. In 2024, Teagasc launched the ‘Better Farming for Water: 8-Action for Change’ campaign which will build on existing programmes.
The Irish farming population is ageing, and the proportion of young farmers has been in decline over recent decades. Data from the Teagasc National Farm Survey reports that 33% of Irish farmers are aged over 65, with an average age of 58 years. Teagasc activities contribute strongly to capacity building for the sector. Over three thousand, six hundred students participate in Teagasc education programmes, and surveys undertaken 5 years after graduation consistently show over 90 percent are involved in farming. The Walsh Scholars Programme and other post-graduate programmes also play a key role by providing highly trained graduates for the sector.
Science-driven innovation in the food industry complements good technical performance at farm level in terms of overall performance of the agri-food sector. In 2024 Teagasc research and innovation delivered significant advancements to the food industry to enhance safety, quality, and sustainability, along with supporting a range of new products and processes through knowledge transfer. Over 150 companies utilised the state of the art Pilot Plant facilities in the National Prepared Consumer Food Centre and Moorepark Technology Ltd, while 410 entrepreneurs from across Ireland benefited from training and support to scale their businesses through the Food Works and Bia Innovator Programmes.
To view the full publication, visit https://www.teagasc.ie/publications/2025/advancing-innovation-sustainability-and-technical-performance-of-the-agri-food-sector-in-2024.php
Many of the indicators published are based on unique Teagasc datasets such as the National Farm Survey, PastureBase Ireland and NMP online. Many more are based on datasets of organisations such as the CSO, ICBF, DAFM, Bord Bia and the EPA, and we are grateful for these data.