In the face of growing climate change challenges, Ireland’s agricultural sector is taking decisive steps toward sustainability.
Farmers, policymakers, researchers and industry leaders are uniting under initiatives like the ClieNFarms project to create impactful climate solutions.
ClieNFarms is an Innovation Action project funded by the European Commission to support the European Green Deal.
This project aims to co-develop and scale up systemic, locally relevant solutions to foster climate-neutral and climate-resilient farms across Europe.
One of its key tools — the Creative Arenas (CAs) – offers a participatory platform to tackle climate challenges through collaboration.
Ireland hosted the first Creative Arena, focusing on the dairy sector. This event set the tone for similar initiatives across Europe, demonstrating the power of collective intelligence and local expertise in addressing sector-specific challenges.
Collaborative innovation for climate-neutral farms
ClieNFarms aims to foster the transition toward climate-neutral and climate-resilient farms across Europe.
By supporting systemic, locally relevant solutions, the project strives to address the diverse challenges faced by different agricultural systems.
Whether it’s crop production, cattle farming, or dairy systems, ClieNFarms embraces the complexity of European agriculture by using 20 demonstration case studies spread across various geographical regions, including Ireland.
This broad coverage ensures that solutions are tailored to specific local conditions, yet universally applicable across different farming systems.
Each demonstration case study uses cutting-edge modelling approaches and multi-criteria assessment tools to test and scale up solutions.
These solutions are developed collaboratively within a “living lab” framework – one that brings farmers together with local stakeholders to co-develop actionable strategies aimed at fostering sustainability.
The results of these efforts are systematically recorded in a centralised data hub, allowing for transparent tracking and analysis of progress and outcomes across all case studies.
The role of creative arenas (CA) in promoting collective intelligence
At the heart of ClieNFarms’ collaborative approach are the Creative Arenas (CAs), interactive forums where stakeholders actively engage in the co-creation of climate solutions.
These arenas are not simply meetings – they are interactive platforms that bring together diverse agricultural actors, such as farmers, researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals, to collaboratively tackle climate challenges.
In the Irish Creative Arena, stakeholders in the dairy sector worked together to explore effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration.
Activities included envisioning an ‘ideal farm’ through interactive mapping and discussing solutions using specialised tools such as solution maps and uptake matrices.
This hands-on approach encouraged meaningful engagement and innovative thinking among participants.
Identifying practical and challenging solutions
One of the main objectives of the Creative Arenas is to pinpoint solutions that are both practical for farmers to implement and capable of making a significant environmental impact.
In Ireland, stakeholders identified promising innovations tailored for dairy farms, such as advanced grazing systems that enhance carbon storage and precision feed management to lower methane emissions.
The Irish Creative Arena also delved into ambitious solutions that, while impactful, require greater support for widespread adoption.
Discussions highlighted barriers like the high cost of new technologies and the need for targeted policy changes. Stakeholders emphasised the importance of support mechanisms, such as subsidies and technical guidance, to bridge these gaps and empower farmers to embrace sustainable practices.
The power of open dialogue and cross-sectoral collaboration
What distinguishes ClieNFarms is its emphasis on fostering open dialogue across the agricultural value chain. Many climate solutions falter not due to lack of innovation but because of structural barriers and insufficient collaboration.
The Creative Arenas offer an inclusive space where all voices—be they from seed merchants, financial advisors, educators, or milk processors—are heard, and actionable strategies are co-designed.
In Ireland, these discussions were particularly impactful, as stakeholders debated not only the feasibility of solutions but also the support needed to implement them.
E.g., participants highlighted the critical role of financial assistance and advisory services in overcoming barriers like high initial investment costs and the adoption of new technologies.
This transparent and inclusive process enabled a deeper understanding of both the opportunities and challenges facing the dairy sector.
Lessons learned and the way forward
One of ClieNFarms’ conclusions is the importance of integrated, cross-sectoral collaboration to tackle the climate crisis.
The Irish Creative Arena exemplified this approach by bringing together dairy sector actors to align on a shared goal: advancing climate-resilient agriculture.
The event underscored that no single group can address the climate crisis alone; success hinges on the collective efforts of diverse stakeholders.
Another critical lesson from the Irish experience is the importance of providing adequate time and space for dialogue.
By dedicating time for workshops and plenary discussions, stakeholders could thoroughly explore challenges and opportunities, ensuring that proposed solutions were both innovative and actionable.
The insights gained in Ireland will inform similar Creative Arenas across Europe, helping to refine strategies for scaling impactful solutions and supporting climate-neutral farming systems.
Through initiatives like the Creative Arenas, ClieNFarms is demonstrating how collective intelligence and cross-sectoral collaboration can lead the agricultural sector toward a more sustainable and resilient future.
A bright future for more resilient agriculture
ClieNFarms is a model of how innovation can be driven by collaboration.
Through its Creative Arenas and emphasis on co-development, the project is creating a network of solutions that will not only reduce emissions but also increase the long-term resilience of European agriculture.
By addressing the immediate and long-term challenges faced by farmers and providing the necessary for implementation, ClieNFarms is helping to pave the way for a climate-neutral agricultural future.
