The Importance of the Organic Food Industry

27th May 2009

Ba bhreá liom i dtosach báire fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Stáit. Is minic a deirtear faoi saol na parlaiminte gur rud fíor-thábhachtach é go mbeadh daoine ann le scileanna agus taithí difriúla ar gnéithe den tsaoil. Is cinnte gur maith an rud é go bhfuil duine ar nós an Aire Stáit freagrach as an réimse seo, mar níl aon amhras nach amháin go bhfuil an suim aige ins an ábhar ach go bhfuil an t-eolas agus an cur chuige aige freisin agus tréisigh mé leis de bharr sin.

Is ceist an-tabháchtach é seo agus is breá liom go bhfuilimid ag plé bia orgánach. Bhí mise an-tógtha leis an díospóireacht le déanaí faoi spiorad na h-Éireann, an plean seo nuair a tháinig daoine le dea-mhéin le chéile chun leagann amach cén chaoi a bhféadimis a shocrú go mbeadh neamhspleáchas ag Éirinn ó thaobh an fhuinnimhde, go mbeadh foinsí fuinnimh ann, ní amháin chun deileáil leis ár riachtanais fhéin ach go mbeimis in ann fuinneamh a easportáil, fuinneamh glann. Is é sin dea-scéal na linne seo agus tá mé ag súil go mór leis an bplé faoi seo atá eagraithe ag an Seanadóir Larry Butler.

Tá an rud céanna fíor i gcás na bia orgánach. Nuair a smaoinimid faoi an dúshlán atá romhainn ag an am seo maidir le cúrsaí gheilleagair agus eacnamaíochta, nach iontach an rud é go raibh an t-Aire Stáit in ann teacht os ár gcomhair agus labhairt faoi na féidearthachtaí atá ann, an margadh atá amuigh ansin do bia orgánach, agus an dul chun cinn ar féidir linn a dhéanamh? Nach bfhuilimid ach ag tosnú, nuair a thógaimid an fhigiúil san áireamh, go bhfuil meán 5% den talamh in úsaid ar fud na hEorpa agus nach bhfuil muidne ach ag 1%, agus ag an am chéanna go bhfuil an lipéid sin orainn, go bhfuilimid glann agus glas? Feictear domsa go bhfuil sé tábhachtach go nglacaimid an deis ansin, mar nach mbeidh an clú sin orainn i gcónaí muna mbainimid úsáid agus dea-úsáid as.

In that context I welcome the Minister of State as a man who has a particular passion for this subject, given his knowledge and ability, and I thank him for putting before us welcome optimistic news at a time we really need it. However, it is news which carries its own warnings. The startling statistic is that 5% is the average land under organic agricultural activity at a European level and we are only at 1%. Given the reputation Ireland has as a clean green country, it seems this will not last forever unless we take proactive steps to use it to maximum effect.

What an irony of history it is that our British friends regard us as “local”. Should we not have advertisements on British television, saying, “Buy local, buy Irish”? It would be a wonderful sign of our maturity if we could set aside past grievances and recognise the opportunity we have in our renewed and greater friendship with our British neighbours, take advantage of their perception of us as being local and not be in any way embarrassed about that. That would show an economic and political maturity. I note, also, the telling statistic the Minister of State brought before us that we are able to meet 25% of our organic market needs using Irish products and that the comparable figure in Britain is 60%. That tells us this is an area of massive opportunity. As the Minister of State said, the opportunity varies in particular areas, but what we must take from today’s debate and continue to stress is that the importance of the debate about organic food exists on several levels. We must reflect on the cultural importance of the organic food debate, the public health significance, as referred to by Senator O’Sullivan, and of course the economic importance, which can never be far from our minds.

I should like to reflect briefly on something said by Ms Siobhan Morris, co-author of Organic & Green Guide to Ireland (2005-06), her insightful comment on organic food production where she recognises that, “In producing food we must allow space for other creatures to live alongside us”. The organic food concept recognises that we have a duty to leave the world around us in a healthy state for all our children. This concept of inter-generational solidarity should never be far from our minds. I was in touch with Mr. Sean McArdle, director of Irish Farmers’ Markets, who points out what we all know, that there is a great demand for organic food, particularly fruit and vegetables, but also wheat, as he specifies. People, as we know, are cooking at home more and not going out to restaurants as much. That presents its own challenges, of course, for other areas, but he has noticed an expansion of that trend, even in the past few months, which will not surprise us. He points to the demand that exists for home produce and says people are rightly questioning where their food is coming from and want to do their bit in contributing to national economic well-being by consuming Irish-grown products. That is not jingoism, but a mere healthy sense of survival and mutual dependency. Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.

Mr. McArdle also points out that we worry about price as regards organic goods, but he says it is 5% to 6% cheaper to buy in farmers’ markets as there are no packaging or storage costs to be taken into account. He makes positive comments, as might be expected, as regards the relative price advantage to be enjoyed at farmers’ markets. We all welcome, from a cultural as well as an economic viewpoint, the presence of farmers’ markets.

The Minister of State may think I am barking mad to mention an organisation called WWOOF Ireland.

For those who do not know it, WWOOF means either “willing workers on organic farms” or “worldwide opportunities on organic farms”. This is a worldwide network which started in the UK in 1971 and has still become an international movement that helps people share more sustainable ways of living. People will work on farms, free gratis; the payment is not monetary, but of course there are many other forms of compensation. Hosts provide food and accommodation, they get the benefit of assistance on the farm and share their knowledge and experience of organic and sustainable lifestyles with what are known as “wwoofers”.

For the last ten years the Republic of Ireland has been represented by WWOOF Independents and in Northern Ireland by WWOOF UK, but I am glad to note that from 2009 WWOOF Ireland represents all of Ireland, and it is appropriate it should get the acknowledgement it deserves for the good example it sets. I want to note and compliment the work of various organisations such as Bord Bia and Teagasc and in particular the organic farming action plan for these years presented by the Minister of State. I also want to note in particular objective 2 of that, which talks about increasing the knowledge base in organic food and farming. Certainly, the 153 registered hosts with WWOOF in Ireland could have a valuable contribution to make in this area of training.

While I am on the subject of training, I come from a part of County Galway with which the Leas-Chathaoirleach will be very familiar. I went to school in Mountbellew, where we are fortunate to have an agricultural college that is very well regarded. Because of cuts in funding, however, we will only have three full-time colleges, in Cavan, Kilkenny and the Botanic Gardens and there will be ten or 12 part-funded colleges, including Mountbellew.

I am aware of the economic difficulties and circumstances that cause these types of cuts to be made, but in commending the proposal to provide training, retraining and upskilling for people to become successful organic farmers in existing agricultural colleges, I wonder whether we are going along the right track when cuts are being made in agricultural colleges such as Mountbellew, which I believe to be the only one in the west. However, in that regard I am sure the Minister of State has a plan to ensure the necessary training is available so there is no delay, bac or constaic as regards training people in the skills and knowledge necessary for organic farming. It is, nonetheless, a point that deserves to be made in passing.

Rath Dé ar an obair, although it is not all going to be simple. There are issues of price differential and the operation of supermarkets. My distinguished colleague, Senator Feargal Quinn, may not agree with everything I have had to say on this subject.

The more we talk about the cultural, public health and economic importance of organic food, the better for ourselves. it is good that there are markets for organic food but we must do our best to supply those markets and to do so soon. The present opportunities will not last forever. We need to take advantage of them. Caithfimid an deis a thapú agus leas a bhaint as na féidireachtaí atá ann, maidir le feirmeoireacht orgánach.