Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for a very interesting presentation. Is this concept present across the rest of Europe? What kind of acreage or how well established is it there?

Deputy Martin Kenny asked how many of the farmers were organic. It is a first-cousin of organic, in trying to do things by more natural methods and improve soil quality through a certain type of farming practice. Having read the submission and listened to the witnesses presentation, I take it that diversity of crops is essential to the system. What is the desirable diversity of crops? How many crops are needed to get to the optimum soil health and the kind of improvement in question here?

I see that the soil becomes a water filter. The previous presentation discussed the importance of the environment in the future. It is impossible to overstate the importance of water quality. I was very interested in that point.

It becomes a water filter. Could the witnesses explain that to us in more detail? I refer to the protein payment. The witnesses are focusing on protein crops as well. Is that just because of the versatility of the system they are proposing or are protein crops more suited to the system of farming they are suggesting? Is this exclusively for tillage farmers or does grassland have a part to play in it?