Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State and apologise for being absent during his contribution. However, I am sure my colleague, Senator Buttimer, presented a robust and comprehensive analysis of the situation. Deputy Sargent has spoken here before on this important issue and we are delighted he is here again.

The final paragraph of the Minister of State's speech summarises where our debate on food and agriculture, whether organic, commercial or family farming, should start. He pointed out that 100 years ago the earth's human population was 1.7 billion, but that today it is 6.5 billion. We must acknowledge, therefore, that we are on the verge of a major food crisis. The world has been consuming increased quantities of food at a high rate over the past decade and supplies have come under pressure. One need not be an economic or mathematical genius to know that if this continues, there will be massive food shortages across the globe. Therefore, whether involved in organic, commercial or family farming, we must put an emphasis on ensuring the world can produce enough food to feed mankind.

A major debate is under way in the European Union on how Europe should plan for the future of agriculture post 2013 and it is important we keep the food supply and food shortage issues at the top of that agenda. I recognise the organic food and production sectors have an important role to play, but we must be realistic - I know the Minister of State is - and recognise that the organic sector makes up only a fraction of the entire food production sector. While it is important, we must concentrate on the non-organic sector.

This debate on the organic food industry is taking place at a time of change with regard to the issue of quality versus quantity. At a time of economic plenty people took a greater interest in food quality, food miles, organic and green food, but now we are in more difficult economic times the green organic image has become clouded by economic fears and shortages. The priority now for people doing their daily or weekly shopping is to be able to purchase sufficient food for the family and the issues of food labelling and food miles etc. have lost impetus. The promotion of the organic sector and organic food production have, therefore, become more difficult in these strained economic times. While the debate on organic food and the need to support its production is as valid as ever, priorities at production and consumer level have changed.

Senator Buttimer and other colleagues pointed out the obvious to the Minister of State with regard to the pressures on family farms, the collapse in the dairy industry, the pressure being faced by beef producers and the effect of bad weather on tillage production. A huge variety of problems face Irish farmers and these need urgent attention from the Government.

I recognise the value of organic food production and am aware that while it may be described as a niche market, there is room for expansion and job creation. There is room also for some family farmers to become more expert in organic production. This would be good for the rural economy, Irish agriculture, the food production industry and consumers. We need to encourage this and I support the efforts of the Department in that regard.

The REPS programme was, in a sense, our first mini-move towards organic or more natural food production. The scheme worked well, but there is disappointment at the reduction in payments. I hope that as Government finances improve, be it in two years, five years or ten years, we will be in a position to put more money into REPS-type farming. It is an initiative that should be supported from the environmental and economic perspective. The various support schemes for organic production have been co-funded by Europe and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and have resulted in additional people joining the organic food production chain. This is welcome. While recognising the financial constraints on the Department, I urge the Minister of State to try and ensure further support is provided.

I acknowledge the work being done by the Minister of State, following his philosophy and strong belief in organic food production. However, I believe he realises the organic production sector comprises only a fraction of his Department's output and expenditure and is only a fraction of food production generally. If we can grow that fraction, all the better and I will support efforts in that regard. However, it would be remiss of me in this debate not to reflect on the bigger crisis facing agriculture - the lack of confidence, doubt about the willingness of future generations to commit to a full-time career in agriculture, the need to invest in training, research and development and the need at EU level to respond to the crisis in the Irish dairy industry. We need to recognise it is not feasible, financially or otherwise, for Irish dairy farmers to be receiving the same price for milk in 2009 as some of them received in 1979 and 1980. During the same period, the price being paid by consumers has increased by many multiples. I have outlined some aspects of the immediate crisis facing Irish agriculture that need to be given serious attention by officials in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and by the Government as a whole. Organic food has a role to play. There is a reasonable degree of consumer demand for it. As I said earlier, we have to accept that the recession will have an effect on this sector. People will have less money to spend on food each week. They may be less willing to spend the slightly higher prices that sometimes have to be paid for organic food. The change in this equation will probably make the Minister of State's job a little more difficult.