Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is good to see Professor Boyle again. I concur totally with what the Chairman said about the visit. I had an opportunity to visit other African countries where I saw more examples of what the Chairman has spoken about. One of the things that came across in Malawi was the idea of one-pot food. In that way the community is able to ensure everything going into the pot has nutritional value for children and young people.

I have a question about research. Is Teagasc part of any research project to study the links between biodiverse farming systems and nutritional outcomes? Is it involved in research into various seed systems? In both situations it concerns how local knowledge is used. One of the NGOs spoke about the use of local instead of external fertilisers. That brings me to another issue I have been following in another country - the export of frozen chickens to countries in Africa that had thriving local poultry production. The European Union has to take some of the blame in that regard. Is Teagasc seeing any example of the undermining of what is being done locally to satisfy an international market?

What Professor Boyle has said about retired people is great. There is no doubt that because of the work Teagasc is doing, there is an interest in other countries in its expertise and knowledge and which want to get it involved. I have been meeting the Nepalese community in Ireland and know that it is keen to have a connection made with Teagasc because of the extent of its knowledge. It is about linking up. Some of the countries in which Teagasc is involved have a considerable coastline. Some of their ministries are responsible for both agriculture and fishing. One area in which there is potential for growth is the production of seaweed. Perhaps I am taking Professor Boyle out of his area of expertise, but sometimes there is not enough of the joining of the dots when a community could be using both the agriculture sector and the fishing sector for a livelihood.