Tim Cullinan, President of the Irish Farming Association, has told Gript that the pressure on the agri-industry from climate policies “could lead to food shortages right across the world.”
In an exclusive interview with Gript, Cullinane was asked about the pressure that green policies are putting on the agri industry and food stability during the global supply-chain crisis.
The comments were made during the weekend’s tractor protest in Dublin city centre.
“If we go back to the Paris Agreement, it was clearly stated that any changes in climate [policy] could not impact on food production, and ensuring that citizens have enough food.
“We have to be very very careful here. Because what’s happening as well is, obviously the world population is increasing, and we’re going to need more food. So the government needs to be very, very careful here, or this could lead to food shortages right across the world.”
There has been significant concern surrounding global food supplies in recent weeks and months, due to a variety of factors, including supply-chain disruption due to Covid-19 restrictions around the world.
Additionally, inflation has led to an increase in prices for products like fertiliser, which has contributed to global food prices hitting a 10-year high, according to the UN.
Inflation: Global food prices hit fresh 10-year high, UN says – BBC News https://t.co/tTPlTRkZix
— Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) November 5, 2021
While Cullinan said that farmers were happy to “play a part” in combating carbon emissions, he felt like the farming industry and Ireland as a nation were being “hard done by” in international climate negotiations.
The full interview can be viewed below.
IFA president Tim Cullinan talks green policies, and tells Gript that damaging the farming sector "could lead to food shortages right across the world." #gripthttps://t.co/IugTdaTZBO pic.twitter.com/wYVy6s9u0G
— gript (@griptmedia) November 22, 2021