Solutions

The proposed solutions for addressing the challenges in GHG emissions reduction and sustainable land use planning in Irish agriculture, which are economically viable and socially acceptable while complying with legal obligations and climate action plans involve a comprehensive approach:

• The project will collaborate with various organizations and projects to gather databases, algorithms, response functions, and emissions factors. Data will be sourced from institutions such as CSO, Teagasc, EPA, SFI, Bord Bia, and universities involved in projects like CONSUS, Terrain-AI, and Carbon Harvesters. This shared data will enhance the modelling accuracy.
• The development of a dynamic combined soil and meteorological map for Ireland and the EU will further enrich the modelling capabilities. This integrated map will improve the accuracy of the systems/landscape model.
• The existing HOLOS V.4 model will be adopted, updated, and improved to create HOLOS-IE, a user-friendly software platform. This platform will be designed by integrating agroforestry, circular bio-economy, agrobiodiversity, peatlands, and agrifood industries within the agricultural farming systems and the value chain. It will be catered to diverse users, including farmers, advisors, inventory staff, academics, and researchers.
• The project aims to create a comprehensive integrated modelling system and software tool, HOLOS-IE, tailored to Irish conditions, leading to a European one ‘HOLOS-EU’ in the future. It will provide a reliable and consistent basis for accounting for C and N emissions and removals across various land uses within a landscape or farm. It will facilitate alternative land use and management decisions, policy development, and the preparation of national GHG inventories (IPCC Tier 3).
• It will target the creation of landscape- and national-scale scenarios to inform land use management and policy decisions, aligning with national goals such as UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Programme for Government, and the Climate Action Plan. This involves projecting future national scenarios at different scales for adaptation through alternative land uses and management options.