Researchers at University of Galway are leading a new €10 million project to develop paludiculture demonstration sites in Ireland, the UK and the Netherlands.
Paludiculture is sustainable agriculture and forestry on wet peatlands. It combines land use and crop production with the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
The four year Horizon Europe project, Palus Demos, is part of a European drive to help farmers diversify profitably while meeting climate goals.
Palus Demos researchers will explore new agricultural business models, develop markets for paludiculture products and increase employment while benefiting the environment and aligning with the European Green Deal.
The project brings together 26 international partners, including farmers, public research bodies, NGOs, commercial farms and industry to stimulate the market and provide policy recommendations to address potential challenges.
Palus Demos is the latest in a network of European-funded paludiculture projects. Support for the practice is growing, as wet farming presents significant opportunities for farmers to diversify into higher yield crop and biomass production.
Paludiculture products for the horticultural, construction and textile industries offer sustainable alternatives to materials such as peat and synthetic fibres.
The majority of Europe’s peatlands have been drained for agricultural use. Draining dries the peat, resulting in rapid decomposition and the release of carbon.
By managing the water table closer to the surface, the aim is to reduce emissions while allowing for commercially viable crops.
There are an estimated 1.5 million hectares of peatland in Ireland alone. Thus, turning a proportion of these lands over to paludiculture is an efficient way to meet our carbon targets.
Palus Demos researchers will test the scalability of a range of high value crops such as sphagnum moss, typha, blueberries and cranberries.
Palus Demos co-ordinator Niall Ó Brolcháin, University of Galway said: “It is great to take part in a European project that demonstrates new farming practices and should offer better incomes to farmers and rural communities while helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the environment at the same time. We need to stop preaching at farmers while tying them up in red tape and to start presenting them with realistic, new, high value opportunities”.
