Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will report on the implementation of recommendations in the organic development report; the acreage of organically farmed land in 1989, 1994, 1999 and 2004 in each EU member state; the action she is taking to remove the impediments to organic conversion for farmers; and the locations at which farmers can benefit from training to farm organically. [14479/05]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Substantial progress has been made on the implementation of the recommendations in the organic development committee report. All three additional structures recommended have been established. A national steering group was set up to act as a driving force for the development of the organic sector and as a basis for advancing partnership between the organic sector and the other principal essential interests. It has met nine times. The steering group is supported by two sub-groups, the partnership expert working group and the organic market development group. The partnership expert working group is responsible for training, education, advice and research. The organic market development group has overall responsibility for developing a national marketing strategy for organic food.

The main incentive to organic conversion for farmers is the rural environment protection scheme under which they get substantial payments. Almost €4 million was paid under the scheme directly to organic farmers in 2004. Since REPS began in 1994, it has delivered €31 million to the sector. Under the current scheme, an organic farmer with 55 hectares is eligible for an annual payment in REPS 3 of €18,505 a year for the first two years, and €13,555 each year for the rest of his or her time in the scheme. As a further incentive to encourage conventional farmers to venture into organic production, REPS now allows them to convert part of the farm instead of the entire holding as previously.

Teagasc offers five training modules in organic farming. Courses are planned at Kildalton, Athy, Bandon and Athenry. Courses will be provided at other centres when there is a demand. Other organisations are also making a notable contribution with financial support from my Department. The demonstration farm project was highly successful in 2004 and the number of farms has risen to 12 in 2005.

The following table outlines the land area under organic production in all EU member states from 1989 to 2003.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply. It is now over five years since the agrifood 2010 committee recommended the setting up of the organic development committee so it is time to examine what progress has been made. The report predicted that by 2006 we would have at least 3% of agricultural land in organic production. Is it time to look again at the measures outlined by the Minister of State on the basis that the figures for other EU countries show considerable progress has been made elsewhere? For example, Austria has nearly 13% of land in organic production, it is over 7% in Finland, and over 6% in Denmark, Greece and Italy. This shows that something is being done in those countries which we are not doing. Can the Minister identify what they are doing that we are not doing, given the potential here which has not been fulfilled?

Will the Minister of State revise the reply he gave to me last October when he said it is up to producers and consumers to determine whether the target is achieved? Does he not agree that 70% of organic food eaten in this country is imported, that this indicates that it is not simply a matter of leaving it up to consumers and producers and that a much more proactive targets-based policy needs to be adopted, which is the case in Austria? It is clear that such a policy works as Austria has 13% of land in organic production. Is it not time to look again at the policy and give us the potential which we would be capable of reaching were the Government in support of it?

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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At present there are about 1,000 organic operators in Ireland and 30,000 hectares of land under organic production.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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It is less than 1%.

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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That is around 1%. In 1994 it was 5,000 hectares. As I outlined in my reply, there is substantial grant aid for farmers to become actively involved in organic production but they have not availed of this. When I talk to organic farmers, they point out that they find it difficult to get consumers to pay the price they seek for the production of organic foods.

The organic committee that reported in 2003 recommended a number of structures, which have all been put in place. It also made a number of other recommendations, including a census of Irish organic production and work on a national label, which should be available shortly. The seven demonstration farms that were operation in 2004 are to be increased to 12. Teagasc has become nationally involved and has identified advisers at national level to work with farmers in the area of organic production.

As regards the issues raised by the Deputy, we are certainly pursuing them within the Department. Grant aid has been made available and we have made changes in the REPS. Where previously a farmer had to devote his or her entire farm to organic production, now it only needs to be part of the farm. A vocational certificate in agriculture, with an organic option, is offered at Mountbellew College. However, because of the lack of interest by students, we are not in a position to make this viable at the moment. Other organisations are involved in training such as the Organic Centre, Rossinver, County Leitrim, an tIonad Glas, County Limerick, and the centre at Falcarragh, County Donegal. In my county there is the County Wexford partnership which is actively promoting organic farming. Every effort is made within the Department.

The Department is always prepared to re-examine the situation. We are very much in favour of developing the organic sector and reaching the 3% target that the committee suggested should be achieved by 2006. I do not believe, however, that this is practicable.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Prior to a brief supplementary question, I would like to welcome the national label initiative, and I hope it comes about shortly as it is long overdue. Does the Minister of State accept that it is necessary to review constantly the reasons Ireland does not maintain the progress made in other countries that have less to boast about in terms of their agricultural traditions? Does he regard the genetic modification situation as an impediment or threat to the development of the organic sector? Does he regard Teagasc as being sufficiently on board to assist smaller producers who are more likely to see the advantages of conversion and to be in a position to move to organic? It needs to focus more on the potential of smaller producers. Organic producers say that Teagasc is much more focused on larger producers and apparently is not that interested in small organic units. Will the Minister of State say whether Teagasc has its mindset correctly adjusted to ensure that organic potential is reached?

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Teagasc has identified advisers to work with farmers. It has also developed and delivered a number of organic courses for farmers and intends to expand in this area. In addition to the roll-out of organic education and advice, Teagasc is developing an organic beef research programme. It hopes to work closely with small producers and farmers who want to enter this area. Teagasc is very active in this area and I will encourage it to become even more active in the months ahead. It is important that we continue to debate this issue but, more importantly, that we encourage farmers to take up the substantial extra grant aid that exists under the REPS.