Mr. Pat Smith:

I visited Kenya this year. I went into a supermarket in the middle of nowhere and saw Kerrygold butter on the shelves, which I thought was phenomenal. It is fair to say that some of our companies are very active in Africa. Glanbia has been involved in Nigeria for a number of years and is investing and employing people there. There are significant opportunities in that regard. The association also promotes self-help and has been involved in self-help in Africa for 30 years. We understand the dynamic down there and promoting co-operatives for small farmers must be a way forward.

In respect of Deputy O'Sullivan's point, we are heavily involved in aquaculture. There is an aquaculture section within the association. In respect of bio-fuels, there is a view that they replace land in isolation. A total of 80% of bio-fuels - particularly when crops are used for bio-fuels, because this is the main area of concern - goes back into producing animal feed, so it is not a problem in itself.

In respect of Deputy Crowe's point about genetic modification, we have no problem with having no GM. However, it is an issue for Europe and for farmers if countries in the rest of the world can use GM technology, reduce their use of fossil fuels as a consequence, reduce their use of pesticides and insecticides and improve production. In the Americas, production is increasing by between 2% and 3% per year due to the use of this technology, yet we are deprived of the chance to use it. As the president said, we must compete with people who use it. In a few years' time, European farmers could be 30% or 40% less competitive than other farmers if science does not dominate. We must try to get science back on the agenda in the context of the technologies used.

Our costs are higher than those in Northern Ireland. We have an opportunity. The British Isles, particularly Great Britain, is our greatest trading partner when it comes to agriculture. It has been estimated that the population of the UK will grow to 70 million in the next few years. Its production is dropping and it has a ready supply of high-quality food on its doorstep. If we can get closer on the quality schemes and there is an acceptance in the UK of our standards and an acceptance here of UK standards, it will be a win-win situation for Irish agribusiness.