Seanad debates
Wednesday, 26 November 2003
Address by Mr. Joe McCartin, MEP.
There were many other questions, on agriculture and other things. We must recognise that agriculture is about the production of food. The new agenda will confine the production of food within those limits of environmental damage, animal welfare, of course, and the welfare of the human labour employed. However, the borders between what we call organic agriculture and viable, competitive agriculture are becoming dimmed. The bottom line will be that the food we produce must be safe. It must be produced in such a way that it is traceable so we know where it comes from, allowing us to establish what it is. We must not damage the environment, which is the position we should approach it from. Holland, with 1% of Europe's land, produces 7% of Europe's food. If France was as intensively cultivated as Holland we would need no more land to produce enough food. There is more land in Europe than we need for the production of food. At one time I was lecturing former Taoiseach, Dr. Garret FitzGerald, about Irish land. I wanted a programme of afforestation, or whatever it was at the time. He told me the sums at that time did not justify the investment. He said that just because the land was there did not mean we had to make any particular use of it. The land is there for the good of mankind. It is not necessary to have rye, wheat or vegetables growing in every field; we can leave it for human enjoyment. The Common Agricultural Policy will ensure we get good food at the right price and that the environment will be safe and enjoyable for humanity.
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