According to the UNESCO UN World Water Development Report published in April 2024, “approximately 72% of the freshwater withdrawals globally” are used for agriculture. The quality and availability of freshwater is at risk due to climate change and unsustainable human use.
Water is essential to support all life on earth and critical for our global food system.
In Ireland and the UK, improving water quality is an immediate priority, while we simultaneously plan for future water scarcity and flooding driven by the changing climate. The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) underpins an important mechanism for assessing and managing water environments. Water bodies are assigned an ecological status such as “water quality”, which ranges from High to Bad.
Good or High ecological status is important for sustaining healthy aquatic ecosystems to support abundant communities of fish, insects and plants. Achieving and maintaining at least Good water quality requires planned and coordinated action across agriculture, urban wastewater, industry and forestry.
A water risk assessment has been undertaken of our UK and Irish supply chains, mapping sourcing volumes and overlaying risk maps from the WFD to determine priority areas to target in order to have greater impact. Water risk mapping is an evolving practice, requiring more accurate data to reliably track progress over a number of years, and we are engaging with key stakeholders to improve our methodology.
Catchment Approach
A catchment approach considers how water moves across a landscape, recognising that rivers, lakes and streams are all connected within wider systems. Improving water quality requires coordinated action across entire catchments, involving collaboration between farmers, businesses and other stakeholders.
Through Catchment Action Programmes (CAPs), we work with partners to deliver targeted, science-led interventions that support better environmental outcomes. This collective approach helps identify where change is needed, supports the adoption of best practice and enables progress to be made at scale.
We are currently involved in 14 CAPs across the UK and Ireland, contributing to improved water quality, biodiversity and long-term resilience within catchments.
We are working collaboratively with the red meat sector to support the Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership (FWEIP). In 2023 Teagasc, Dairy Industry Ireland and the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) secured funding to drive on-farm improvements in water quality, while also benefiting climate change mitigation and biodiversity protection. The project focuses on reducing Phosphorous, Nitrogen, sediment and pesticides entering watercourses through surface runoff and groundwater.
We employ two Farming Water Quality Advisors, who work alongside Teagasc Advisors to support farms and recruit participants into the Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership (FWEIP).
We are active in 7 Catchment Action Programmes (CAPs), working directly with farms to complete water risk assessments and implement improvement plans. These include the Blackwater, Bandon, Lee, Nore, Barrow, Slaney and Suir catchments, with representation on CAP steering and implementation groups.
We are also involved in targeted projects such as the Giant Hogweed Eradication Programme, working with supplier farms to map invasive species and support compliance with County Council inspections in line with Good Agricultural Practice.
Alongside knowledge sharing and training initiatives, including Newford and Tipperary open days, we are working with Activate Ireland farms to develop sustainable water management plans that support long-term improvements in water quality.
In the UK, Dunbia are members of WRAP’s Food and Drink Pact, signatories to the Water Roadmap and members of the Water Oversight Panel, collaborating with NGOs, Rivers Trusts, the food and drink sector and local partners to align on a consistent programme of action to improve water efficiency and restore water bodies to a Good ecological status, in order to protect the ecosystems and communities that rely on them.
By 2030, through the UK Food and Drink Pact’s Water Roadmap and through national collective action, we aim to ensure 50% of fresh food is sourced from areas with sustainable water management, improving water security at a catchment scale.
Dunbia is supporting 7 water catchment projects across the UK, including:
- WRAP’s South-West CAP in England
- WRAP’s West Cumbria CAP in England
- WRAP’s Wye and Usk CAP in England and Wales
- Ribble Rivers Trust CAP near Sawley in England
- Ayrshire Rivers Trust CAP in Scotland
- Mid Ulster Biorefinery Circular Economy Slurry Project in Northern Ireland
- Northern Devon Nature Improvement Area Landscape Scale Program “Mussels Project” in England
Creation of Riparian Buffer Zones at a Farm in Perthshire, Scotland
At a farm in Perthshire, areas of grassland were fenced off from livestock to establish riparian buffer zones alongside watercourses. These areas are now left largely undisturbed, allowing vegetation to regenerate naturally and act as a buffer between agricultural land and waterways.
This approach has reduced the speed and volume of surface run-off, lowering the risk of soil erosion and nutrient loss while improving water quality within the catchment. The reduced disturbance has also supported increased biodiversity, with improved habitats for wildlife and evidence of increased otter activity.
Pond and Wetland Creation on Marginal Land surrounding Farm Buildings on a Farm in Leicestershire, England
On a farm in Leicestershire, an existing pond was dredged and enlarged to increase its capacity to store rainwater and reduce run-off into nearby watercourses. The development of the pond and surrounding wetland areas has helped to improve water management across the site. Through ongoing pond management, the system maintains clean water and supports aquatic habitats. Evidence suggests that well-managed ponds can significantly increase species richness, helping to enhance biodiversity while contributing to improved water quality and resilience within the wider landscape.