Noteworthy

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PLAN BEE: Are we letting the native Irish honey bee die out?

Ireland

Ireland is one of the last countries in Europe to have a significant population of pure native honey bees - but it is at risk of extinction because of the importation of foreign bees.

13 Backers raised €420 of €1980

Open

LINE OF FIRE: Why is burning in the uplands going unpunished?

Ireland

Burning vegetation during the bird-nesting season is not permitted, yet, every year between March and August, fires started illegally cause widespread damage.

46 Backers raised €1490 of €3970

Open

GIVE WHEY: Are Irish dairy exports hurting African farming communities?

International

Milk powder made from whey, a byproduct of the dairy industry, is flooding African markets and taking the place of locally produced milk.

32 Backers raised €1073 of €3355

Open

AGAINST THE GRAIN: How reliant are Irish livestock farms on imported feed?

Ireland

Despite our pasture-based grass fed livestock system, Ireland still faces a problem feeding its farmed animals. Millions of tonnes of feed is imported every year for cattle, while the demand from poultry and pig farms - with large indoor shed units - is on the rise.

34 Backers raised €1185 of €1740

Completed

OVER THE HILL: Can overgrazing on Ireland’s vulnerable habitats be stopped?

Ireland

Intensive grazing and overgrazing is impacting almost 40% of all EU protected habitats in Ireland and is by far the most prevalent agricultural pressure in these areas.

32 Backers raised €1660 of €1660

Open

UP MANURE CREEK: Why is traditional slurry spreading happening when it’s bad for human health?

Ireland

Slurry is one of the most popular fertilisers on farms as the manure and water mix offers a cheap boost of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to boost grass and crop growth.

25 Backers raised €745 of €2310

Completed

TRADE OFF: Are we turning a blind eye to animal welfare concerns in the live export trade?

Ireland

The live export trade has grown substantially in recent years as incomes dwindle in the domestic market, with the Minister for Agriculture recently calling the trade “a critical part of Ireland’s livestock industry”.

50 Backers raised €2100 of €2100

Completed

FACTORY FARM: Are we prioritising profits over animal welfare and human health?

Ireland

The traditional image of the small Irish family farm is slowly slipping away with many farms growing more industrialised in response to ambitious production targets set by the State.

87 Backers raised €2730 of €2720

Completed

CASH COW: Are subsidies encouraging unsustainable farming practices?

Ireland

The farm has a big role to play in the fight against climate change, yet experts argue that it is difficult to shift to a nature-friendly model while subsidies favour intensive production.

48 Backers raised €1150 of €1150

Completed

REAPING THE HARVEST: Have years of neglect left horticulture at a pandemic-provoked tipping point?

Ireland

In March, at the height of the coronavirus crisis, the European Commission issued guidelines that seasonal agricultural workers be treated as frontline workers in order to save fruit and veg harvests.

25 Backers raised €1700 of €1700

Completed

SPRUCED UP: Are coniferous trees killing our native ecosystem?

Ireland

A Government plan to plant almost 400 million trees by 2046 was announced as part of the Climate Action Plan in the past few months. There is a target of 70% conifers and 30% broadleaf for these new plantations which has led to some biodiversity advocates being concerned about the continued afforestation of Ireland by non-native conifers.

54 Backers raised €1950 of €1950