Sir, – I refer to your recent article regarding the proposed solar farm in Co Kildare, in which Paul Brophy states that placing solar developments on “the best land in the country” threatens Ireland’s food security (“Solar farms threaten food security, says broccoli grower”, Business, April 15th).
While such concerns may resonate at first glance, they do not stand up to closer scrutiny.
Ireland is a major exporter of agricultural produce, with up to 90 per cent of what we produce destined for international markets rather than domestic consumption. In that context, the suggestion that a relatively small number of solar developments could meaningfully undermine national food security is difficult to justify.
It is also important to keep scale in perspective. Allocating approximately 0.25 per cent of Ireland’s land to solar energy is, by any reasonable measure, modest. To suggest that this could jeopardise food security is, quite simply, a stretch of the imagination.
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There are many competing uses for land in Ireland. For example, significant areas are dedicated to activities such as golf courses, which also take land out of food production, yet they are rarely framed as a threat to national food security. Singling out solar development in this way risks distorting what should be a balanced and evidence-based discussion.
At a time when fuel costs and energy security are pressing concerns, it is abundantly clear that Ireland must move towards greater energy independence. Solar energy has a key role to play in reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels and strengthening the resilience of our energy system.
It is also worth noting that solar farms do not necessarily remove land from agricultural use. In many cases, sheep grazing continues between panels, meaning food production and energy generation can coexist. In addition, well-managed solar sites have been shown to improve biodiversity, supporting pollinators and enhancing habitats compared with more intensive agricultural use.
Solar also provides farmers with an opportunity to diversify their income in what is often a volatile sector. This should be seen as a positive development. While some farmers may not wish to pursue this option, it is ultimately a matter of individual choice.
Indeed, farmers who choose to diversify into solar are not telling others how to farm – whether that be dairy, beef, or vegetable production. It is only reasonable that the same respect be extended in return.
Of course, Brophy and others are entitled to their opinions. However, it is important that opinions are not presented as facts. The claim that solar farms on productive land threaten Ireland’s food security is not supported by the evidence and risks misleading the public.
Ireland requires both a secure food system and a secure energy system. It is entirely possible that we can achieve both. – Yours, etc,
John Fagan
Mullingar,
Co Westmeath
Sir, – While it is true that Ireland imports a significant proportion of its food, this outcome is not a reflection of farmers’ capability or contribution, but rather the result of long-term policy decisions and consumer behaviour.
Successive governments have overseen the decline of key domestic sectors – including the closure of the sugar industry, the sharp reduction in vegetable growing enterprises, and the contraction of milling. At the same time, consumers have increasingly prioritised low-cost imports, often overlooking air environmental and production standards.
In parallel, Irish agriculture has specialised in areas where it has a comparative advantage, particularly beef, dairy, and poultry. This aligns with the broader globalisation model of the past 30 years. However, that model is now being reassessed in light of climate concerns and food security risks, making domestic production more strategically important than ever.
Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s recent characterisation of farmers as overly subsidised and undercontributing to tax revenues risks oversimplifying a complex sector that underpins rural economies, national exports, and food security.
A balanced relationship between urban and rural Ireland is essential to the country’s social and economic fabric. Commentary that frames one side as disproportionately privileged risks deepening divisions rather than fostering understanding. – Yours, etc,
Robert Greene
Kilkea,
Co Kildare
