An ambitious plan has been launched to double the production of indigenous protein crops in Ireland by 2030.

The Irish Protein Stakeholders Group - convened by Teagasc - produced and published the strategic plan, which supports he growing of native protein crops, which would see farmers produce 130,000t of indigenous protein crops from 20,000ha by 2030.

The plan was launched this week by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue.

The minister commended the plan and the targets within, which, he said, are aligned with his department’s proposed Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan to double the area grown to protein crops to 20,000ha.

The group, which has representatives from the agricultural industry, farmers, Teagasc and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) outlined three key strategies to achieve their goal:

The stakeholders group intend to launch an initiative called Benchmarking Beans for Yield Improvement next spring.

The aim of this initiative is to determine the key agronomic practices used to achieve the highest yielding crops and to use these crops as a benchmark for other farmers, for overall yield improvement.

Minister McConalogue said he believes in the long-term viability of the tillage sector and is convinced there is massive untapped potential within it.

"Growing the area under protein crops is a win-win for our industry; it offers a support for tillage farmers and can play a huge role in reducing our dependence on imported crops.”

He also highlighted the benefits of increasing native production of protein crops from climate change, environmental and biodiversity viewpoints, which will "greatly contribute to Ireland’s sustainability credentials".

He also outlined the advantages of protein crops from an economic viewpoint to the tillage farmer.

Michael Hennessy, head of Crop Knowledge Transfer department in Teagasc said:

Group member Liam Leahy from Dairygold said:

Irish Protein Stakeholders Group strategic plan is available here