Carbery and Climate KIC partner in new €700,000 initiative to expand climate-neutral technologies on farms
Cork, 8 July 2025 – A fund of €700,000 has been secured to trial next-generation methane-reducing technologies on 10 additional dairy farms in West Cork, expanding the reach of Carbery’s Farm Zero C project – a research and demonstration initiative aiming to create a blueprint for an economically viable, sustainable dairy farming model.
As part of this new partnership with Climate KIC, Europe’s leading climate innovation agency, the farms will trial new technologies, such as treatment for improving manure management and satellite technology to map biodiversity, expanding the research conducted by Farm Zero C.
A transition with farmer wellbeing at its core
Funded by the Systemic Climate Action Collaborative, a pioneering coalition advancing climate action and systemic transformation, this flagship initiative is part of the broader Deep Demonstration of sustainable food systems, a partnership established in 2022 between Climate KIC and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to embed climate mitigation and resilience actions in the Irish land and agri-food sector.
“Farmers are on the frontlines of the climate transition, but so too are their livelihoods and wellbeing,” said Stewart Gee, Deep Demonstration programme lead at Climate KIC. “This initiative focuses not just on emission cuts, but also on social resilience, farmer wellbeing, economic security, and local action. The aim is to create clear, realistic, and long-term action plans for farms of all types to transition, without leaving anyone behind.”
Tackling methane through farmer-led solutions
“We’ve seen firsthand through Farm Zero C and through the outcomes of our FutureProof sustainability bonus (where farmers are paid a premium to implement certain sustainability initiatives on their farms), that cutting emissions and maintaining profitability can go hand in hand,” said Enda Buckley, Director of Sustainability for Carbery. “This project gives us the opportunity to bring these practical solutions to more farmers, faster.”
Methane from enteric fermentation and manure management accounts for over two-thirds of Ireland’s agricultural emissions, and almost 20% of the country’s overall greenhouse gas emissions.
The initiative will prioritise ‘ready now’ innovations, to reduce methane emissions rapidly while retaining profitability. These technologies will be selected by Carbery and the relevant farmers and will include Glasport Bio’s Slurry Abate system.
John O’Donoghue, one of the farmers participating in this trial, said: “We have been seeing what works on one farm, as part of Farm Zero C. This project is about taking what has been tested on one farm, and bringing it to more of them. We will see then what works practically and what will actually make a difference to the average farmer.”
Innovative finance and farmer-centric business models
Carbery’s Farm Zero C and Climate KIC’s Deep Demonstration programmes are also looking at funding models and financial supports to make methane-reduction technologies more affordable for farmers. Finance innovator and not-for profit Bankers without Boundaries will assist through this new initiative in exploring financial mechanisms like carbon payments, green loans, and cooperative incentive schemes. Additional efforts by Community Arts Network and Metabolic will explore how common perceptions in local communities can support the scale-up of methane-reducing technologies.
Timeframe
The first year will focus on trialling technologies, building collaboration with the first 10 farmers, collecting baseline data, and developing viable financial and narrative models. In year two, these insights will be scaled, and a second farmer cohort onboarded.
Notes for the editor
About Climate KIC
Climate KIC is Europe’s leading climate innovation agency and community, creating climate-resilient communities and fighting climate breakdown by mobilising systems change in countries, regions, cities, and businesses. Together with partners across the globe, Climate KIC orchestrates solutions and facilitates learning to bridge the gap between climate commitments and current reality, driving faster and more ambitious action.
In Ireland, Climate KIC partners with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to accelerate pathways to climate neutrality in the land and agri-food system. This includes the recent launch of two major initiatives in AI, climate, and agri-food in partnership with Dogpatch and Salesforce.
- For more information, visit www.climate-kic.org.
- For media inquiries, please contact media@climate-kic.org.
About Carbery Group
Carbery Group is a leading international manufacturer of specialty food ingredients, flavouring solutions, and award-winning cheeses, headquartered in West Cork, Ireland. Owned by four Irish dairy co-operatives, we operate at the intersection of science, nutrition, and sustainability, supplying customers in over 50 countries with innovative, high-quality products. For more information, visit www.carbery.com.
About Farm Zero C
Farm Zero C is a pioneering research and demonstration project aimed at creating a carbon-neutral dairy farm. Located at Shinagh Farm in West Cork, Ireland, the project is a collaboration between Carbery Group, BiOrbic Bioeconomy SFI Research Centre, Teagasc, and several academic and industry partners. For more details, visit www.farmzeroc.ie.
About the Systemic Climate Action Collaborative
The Systemic Climate Action Collaborative a groundbreaking cross-sectoral coalition of funding and implementing partners united by a shared goal to mitigate climate change, restore ecosystems, and build resilience for millions of people and the planet over the next decade. Through pooled funding and integrated action, the Collaborative endeavours to overcome competition, fragmentation, lack of disjoined climate action, and insufficient funding for the crucial work of ‘weaving’ and orchestration of systemic transformation. Climate KIC, Community ArtsNetwork, Metabolic and Bankers without Boundaries are amongst the 15 instigating members. For more information, visit www.thecollaborative.world.