A “bioeconomy co-operative” could help create new income streams for farmers and local employment in a north Kerry region, according to a report from independent think-tank, TASC.
The charity engages in research and public outreach concerning inequality, democracy, and climate justice.
TASC commenced the Ballylongford-Asdee-Beal People’s Transition in December 2022, with the project running throughout last year.
The intention of the project was to listen to, and learn from, the needs and abilities of the communities of Ballylongford, Asdee, and Beal in north Kerry.
The team then designed a number of climate solutions that would benefit these communities and address a number of the main development priorities identified by the participants.
North Kerry
Based on this process, the report proposed two climate solutions to both address local needs and build on the communities’ strengths.
The first solution focuses on developing a blueway, a water-based tourism initiative which seeks to encourage more people to experience inland waterways, lakes, rivers and coastal areas.
The report states that this could help to boost the number of tourists visiting the area, building upon the location of the communities on the Shannon estuary and raise awareness of the other historic and natural amenities in the region.
The second solution presents a number of bioeconomy activities that are relevant to the rural economy.
The bioeconomy uses renewable, biological resources sourced sustainably from land and sea, such as crops, forestry, fisheries, aquaculture, micro-organisms and animals.
It then converts these resources into value-added bio-based products including proteins, feeds, fertilisers, plastics and energy.
The government’s Irish Bioeconomy Action Plan highlighted how the Shannon Estuary region “offers the opportunity to consider the development of exemplar bioeconomy development aligned with renewable energy sources and the greening of food system and industrial value chains”.
TASC said that the creation of a bioeconomy co-operative could assist in creating new income streams for farmers, as well as creating employment and supporting emissions reduction.
The TASC team said that several bioeconomy activities are relevant to rural communities such as Ballylongford-Asdee-Beal, including the processing of crops like hemp.
Hemp is described as “ideal crop for use on marginal land due to its suitability for areas with high rainfall and small farms”.
However, the report said that a significant barrier to the growth of hemp is the lack of processing infrastructure in Ireland, along with the reliability of machinery and a lack of knowledge about the crop.
The team also states that forestry could produce woodchip to meet renewable energy and climate targets.
They added that the development of anaerobic digestion (AD) plants could create new income streams for local farmers, mainly through biogas and fertiliser production.
The team acknowledged the importance of local engagement when developing a bioeconomy, citing past experiences with wind turbines in the area.
It was suggested that Munster Technological University (MTU) could support the bioeconomy development in the north Kerry region.
TASC noted these solutions should not be considered as the only possible collective climate initiatives that could be undertaken in the region.
“They were just two initiatives which the team felt would be feasible and implementable,” it said.
Report
The collective population of the Ballylongford, Asdee and Beale area has decreased by 25% or 520 people between 1981 and 2016.
Population decline was slightly reversed in the 2022 Census, which showed an increase of 11 people in the area.
The report noted a decline in the number of farmers in the area, while agricultural workers increased which it said may reflect additional labour requirements needed on dairy farms after the removal of milk quotas.
The main challenge identified by the community was emigration and the need for more employment opportunities in the local area.
94% of survey respondent said that local employment opportunities were a high priority.
One community member who took part in the project noted that “15 to 20 jobs here is the same as 2,000 in Dublin”.
Some community members highlighted the potential for Shannon LNG to create local jobs, while the report also noted “some scepticism about whether it would benefit the local area”.
The project also highlighted how improved services are needed to help bring families to the area.