Ahead of St Patrick's Day scientists at VistaMilk, the Science Foundation Ireland agri-food research centre, have found that white clover is playing an important role in reducing the carbon footprint.

Research conducted by the organisation shows that having clover planted in field where cows graze can reduce the need for dairy farmers to use fertiliser nitrogen by up to 40%, as clover naturally reintroduces nitrogen from the atmosphere into the soil.

Farmers who grow white clover among the grass in their fields can significantly lower the carbon footprint of their dairy produce - 1,500 years after St Patrick used a related plant, the shamrock, as a symbol to explain the holy trinity.

"It appears that St Patrick, even if he didn’t know it, was something of a visionary when it comes to the environment," said Deirdre Hennessy, VistaMilk funded investigator and senior research officer at Teagasc.

"We’re all familiar with his ‘three leaves’ explanation, so is it a coincidence that we have identified three main benefits for farms and the farmers that incorporate white clover into their grassland management processes? 

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"Clover reduces the need for excessive fertiliser use, improves feed quality and increases milk yields. From a farmer’s perspective, this trinity of benefits has huge significance as well.

"It means that they are reducing their reliance on artificial fertiliser, which saves money and time; they are improving productivity, which enhances their income; and they are mitigating environmental impact by reducing greenhouse gas emissions (nitrous oxide) from fertiliser use.

"All of this shows that through proper grassland management, we can avoid a reduction in the national herd and safeguard our farming heritage by sustaining the viability of family-run farms well into the future.  We can all learn a lot of lessons from the humble clover," she added.

White clover also provides an important source of nectar for insects that pollinate, including bees, and the biodiversity of the soil.

The dairy industry in Ireland comprises 18,000 family farms, 60,000 jobs and is worth an estimated €5bn to the economic annually.