Investigation Into the Potential Food Safety, Economic, and Environmental Impacts of Climate Change
- Project start date: 1 February 2016
- Project status: Completed
- Project type: Food safety
- Discipline: Food chain
- Principal researcher/s: Dr Thia Hennessy, Teagasc at Ashtown
- Collaborator/s: Dr Katrina Campbell, QUB, Dr Maeve Henchion, Rural Economy Development Programme at Teagasc, Dr Trevor Donnellan, Rural Economy Development Programme at Teagasc
Research objective
This research investigated the potential food safety, economic and environmental impacts of climate change on the dairy production chain on the island of Ireland. A number of food safety risks involving pathogens, chemical contaminants, residues and natural toxins were identified. The level of awareness regarding climate change among the various stakeholders in the dairy supply chain was high and the general consensus was that collective action is required to address the issue. The major threats identified by stakeholders centred around extreme weather events and the knock-on effects on feed, diseases, pests and consumer concerns. The negative impact of climate change on dairy production in other regions could present an opportunity for the dairy industry on the island of Ireland given the carbon-efficient system of milk production already in place here.
The expertise of the research team were further harnessed to map the dairy supply chain on the island of Ireland in order to provide a comprehensive description of all stakeholders involved in the production, processing and marketing of dairy products. The report contributed to a wider project that involves a food chain vulnerability analysis of the dairy supply chain in order to enhance consumer protection. This was led by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in conjunction with Safefood, the Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.
Outputs
Research report
- Title: The impact of climate change on dairy production
- Publication date: 13 October 2017
- Summary: The potential food safety, economic and environmental impacts of climate change on the dairy production chain.
- Findings:
The research identified a number of food safety risks involving pathogens, chemical contaminants and natural toxins. Of particular note is the potential for an increase in the range and occurrence of mycotoxins, particularly given the future climate on the island of Ireland is projected to be warmer and wetter. This will lead to an increased risk of crop, and therefore feed, contamination, and possibly an increased reliance on imported feed that may also be contaminated. Similarly, the changing climatic conditions will influence the spectrum and behaviour of animal diseases with a potential knock-on effect on the use of veterinary medicines and other agents that could enter the food chain.
The research found that the level of awareness regarding climate change among the various stakeholders in the dairy supply chain is high and the general consensus is that collective action is required to address this issue. Climate change presents both threats to and opportunities for the Irish dairy sector. The major threats identified by stakeholders centered around extreme weather events and the knock-on effects on feed, diseases, pests and consumer concerns. The negative impact of climate change on dairy production elsewhere in the world was seen as presenting an opportunities for the dairy industry on the island of Ireland given carbon-efficient system of milk production already in place here.
- Recommendations:
Science and technology will play an important role in mitigating the effects of climate change but this will necessitate buy-in at all stages along the dairy production chain. This is necessary to not only ameliorate the impacts on climate change on dairy production, but to ensure that dairy production is as sustainable as it possibly can be.
You can download the report below.
