Professor Gerry Boyle:

Senator Boyhan mentioned the importance of organics. We are very strongly advocating organics in our education programme. We have recently developed a continuous professional development, CPD, programme directed at farmers. It is probably one of the first in Europe. Farmers will receive CPD points for undertaking and completing courses. I see a great opportunity for pre-conversion courses to be delivered in a CPD format. It is certainly a matter I will be talking to colleagues about.

We keep coming back to the point that there are significant technical challenges associated with organic livestock production. Similar challenges will exist in conventional livestock production because of the climate change issues. Farmers have to learn a whole new way of farming. They will have to adapt to a much lower chemical input. That involves a revolution in how they approach the whole business of farming. In this respect, the challenges facing organic and conventional farmers are very similar.

Let me put on my economist hat on for a minute and consider the situation from the point of view of an organisation such as mine, which advises farmers. The market is critical. We have to be alert to the signals the farmer gets back from the market, particularly in respect of the likely premium the farmer will generate, because ultimately these are what are going to drive responses. It is almost like creating a new value chain. There almost has to be intervention to make the market. The kinds of premiums we are talking about in beef, which Mr. Brennan mentioned, are very disappointing premiums to drive a significant response. That is a reality. That is what makes me a little cautious because I hope members understand that when our advisers go out to talk to farmers and refer to planning for the future, it presents a major challenge for them. We have to be very conscious that we are putting the farmers on a path on which they can better themselves in terms of their livelihood and the sustainability of the enterprise. That is why the matter has to be considered in the round. Admittedly, education and advice are important, as is research, but the market context is critical.

There has to be such an incentive on a continuous basis. It is particularly challenging in the case of dairy and beef, which are the areas most favoured by organic producers.