Mr. John Keane:

I will touch on some of the key points. If we are looking at a solutions-based approach to deliver more on-farm labour, we can look at the Teagasc approach over the past number of years to distance-learning and part-time courses. There is a definitely a role with an expansion and integration of such a model on a wider level to offer the opportunity for people to engage in organic programmes and learning. We can look at the supports for education and training of farmers for this and if we are to meet the targets under the organic framework, we will need further education, training and associated development. We are also going to need development of on-farm advisory aspects.

We can look at the proof points of what has been delivered in the past and how that is delivered on the farm. We can look at the example of the ASSAP and water-based catchment areas, where advisers meet farmers and walk the land with them. They highlight areas for improvement and areas going really well. We can see the impact that has on on-farm practices. It is a model that works and it can be replicated.

There is the question of developing the ability of farmers to supply products, which is one side of this matter, but we need to expand market development. As Mr. Fitzgerald has said, we cannot put in resources to education and farmers, converting land to organics over a number of years, only to realise that produce will saturate the market. In such a case, not only would the new people entering the market suffer but those who have produced organics for a long number of years would also receive a lower price. That area must be protected also and a development in supports must be designed in order to facilitate that.

From a young farmer's overarching perspective, there is definitely a role for organics. We would fully engage with this in order to provide an economic return for young farmers. In the context of where we are currently with farming, there must be a focus on that. We must focus on what is provided for young farmers in all aspects of farming, right across organics, tillage, dairying, beef, pigs and poultry. The focus must be on driving generational renewal on that front. In turn, if we have highly educated and motivated young people entering these sectors, evidence and previous experience demonstrates that these are the people likely to engage with new technologies and practice to drive change, and this in turn will drive environmental efficiency to improve our overall environmental impact.