Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

Smart green growth summarises the view coming from the industry on where we want to go with Irish agriculture in the ten years ahead to 2020. Given the overview just provided by the Minister, I want to focus on a couple of aspects of the Food Harvest 2020 report and then address horticulture and organics, which are my areas of specific responsibility.

The Minister said that will have to adopt environmentally sustainable practises at all levels throughout the food chain to meet internationally recognised standards. This approach, as articulated in the report under the "Think Green" heading, has the potential to provide real benefits to both our environment and the profitability of Irish agriculture. By putting in place truly sustainable agriculture production systems, we will ensure that our domestic food production will become resilient and in a better position to cope with the adverse affects of climate change and the reduction in availability of oil. All countries will have to come to terms with coping with these changes. By planning and adapting now to meet these challenges Irish agriculture can get a head start on its competitors and by providing robust certification of sustainable production, Irish food produce can achieve a real dividend in the marketplace.

I am aware that Bord Bia is working closely with the Carbon Trust in this regard and I look forward to learning of the outcome of their efforts. Both the Bord Bia commissioned "Pathways for Growth" and the Food Harvest 2020 report recognise the potential value of building a strong "Brand Ireland" image. This approach can benefit all, but in particular would help those involved in the artisan and speciality food sector. This weekend I am attending the Terra Madre conference and exhibition in Turin, where Bord Bia is working with Irish producers to promote food produce from this sector and I look forward to learning more on how we can continued to develop in this important area.

The horticulture sector has performed well over the past decade and has grown to be a significant entity within the overall agricultural industry. Horticulture now contributes around €370 million, including potatoes, to farm output. It makes an important economic contribution in supplying the domestic market, providing employment opportunities and foreign trade earnings. In addition, the sector generates significant additional jobs in ancillary sectors such as distribution, retail and landscaping.

The area and proportion of production under protection from the weather has increased significantly. Improvements in the quality and presentation of Irish produce over the past decade have also been significant and quality of output, hygiene and food safety have all become critical issues for the sector. The industry is labour-intensive, employing approximately 18,500 people across the food and non-food areas, and employment is broadly based across the country.

Ireland is estimated to be 24% self sufficient in fruit and 85% self sufficient in vegetables. These figures are based on produce which can be grown domestically. Significant quantities of fruit, such as tropical and citrus varieties, must be imported as well as large quantities of ornamental plants. Mushroom production, with a value in excess of €100 million, is the only domestic crop where there are significant exports, with more than 70% of production being exported to the UK.

My Department continues to support the development of the horticulture sector. Support has been provided through the grant aid scheme of investment aid for the development of the commercial horticulture sector under the National Development Plan 2007-2013. Funding provided under the scheme underpins capital investment on farms that will encourage environmentally friendly practices, improve working conditions, improve the quality of produce and promote diversification of activities. This investment contributes significantly to the growth and development of the horticulture sector across all areas, including the protected crops, field vegetables, nursery crops, mushrooms, soft fruit, apples and the beekeeping sectors. In addition, financial support continues to be available to those producers who participate in the producer organisation scheme. This EU scheme provides an important mechanism for growers to become part of a larger supply base, to concentrate on marketing and improve quality. My Department also provides funding to Bord Bia and Teagasc towards their work in the horticultural industry.

Horticulture continues to offer considerable potential for future development but the sector has been experiencing particular challenges in recent times, not least from the strong competitive pressures imposed by the highly concentrated retail marketplace, the supermarket multiples and from competitively priced imports. In addition, difficult growing conditions due to adverse weather experienced during 2008 and 2009 impacted on growers' returns. This was further compounded by significant damage to crops and plants arising from the severe frosts experienced in early 2010. As we all know it was a long tough hard winter and the people who know that best are those working in the farming sector. The general economic downturn has also impacted on the sector. Demand for production from the amenity sector has fallen significantly owing to the slowdown in the construction sector.

The Food Harvest 2020 report recognises that the sector and the food service market offer opportunities to replace imports with home-grown seasonal produce, to supply our organic market and to diversify in order to meet ethnic food demands. Bord Bia will continue to provide support to operators in the horticulture sector to develop new markets by way of assistance in the areas of product innovation and marketing skills. Bord Bia is also involved in a number of campaigns to promote demand for horticultural produce including the incredible edibles initiative, which is an educational initiative for primary school children that is funded by industry and Bord Bia and facilitated by my Department. It aims to increase fresh fruit and vegetable consumption as part of a healthy diet and we need such initiatives at a time when there is a growing focus on the impact of obesity not just on older people, but also on our children.

Further to the recommendations and proposals contained in the horticulture section of the Food Harvest 2020 report, I intend to establish shortly, within the overall implementation framework for Food Harvest 2020, a horticulture action group to oversee implementation of the findings relating to the sector. This group will play a key role in determining how best to organise implementation of the recommendations in this important and complex sector. The group will, in turn, report back to the high-level committee, established and chaired by the Minister, Deputy Brendan Smith, which is responsible for the overall implementation of the report. As the report itself recognises, it is also vital that the future potential of horticulture is considered in tandem with the other general farm and agriculture industry level recommendations set out in this important document.

I also intend that Forás Orgánach will play an important role in the implementation process. Organic farming and organic food are in a particularly good position to benefit from the implementation of the recommendations. Organic food production is currently the most sustainable agriculture production method. Organic produce is already certified to the most exacting standards. As this certification is already in place, organic food and food products are in an advantageous position to exploit the strategies as outlined in Food Harvest 2020 and Bord Bia's Pathways to Growth. Opportunity abounds in the domestic organic retail market. It is currently worth €94 million and a large portion of this produce is imported.

Shortly, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, for which I also hold certain responsibilities, will publish the new national action plan on green public procurement. This action plan on public procurement for food will make particular provision for organic food in accordance with the commitment in the renewed programme for Government.

Apart from the domestic market, major export opportunities for Irish organic produce are to be found in the major European markets. For example, the UK market is estimated to be worth £1.85 billion and the German organic market is worth €5.85 billion. Bord Bia ran a trade workshop recently during national organic week to help producers devise strategies to exploit this lucrative market. I would encourage more farmers to consider making the switch to organic and we are helping out with the conversion process.

Food Harvest 2020 offers Irish agriculture an opportunity to establish real resilience in food production and position our produce to exploit the premier lines in international markets.

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