Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I warmly welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Andrew Doyle, here. I am conscious that he has particular responsibilities for food, forestry and horticulture within the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I thank him for his comprehensive statement on this sector. It is to be welcomed. It is comprehensive and covers a lot of the areas in which I would have an interest.

Looking at the word "organic", I spoke to a few people here this morning who asked what were we talking about and what is "organics" all about. It is worth saying, not for us but for those who listen in here, that organic farming is a method of crop and livestock production that involves much more than choosing not to use pesticides, fertilisers, genetically modified organisms, anti-biotics and growth hormones. It is a far more complex issue. It is about being kind to the environment, kind to nature, adapting other alternatives in an organic, proper and sustainable way for the land. It need not always be farmers per se. Particularly in Wicklow, Meath and around the fringes of Dublin, and especially in north county Dublin, there are smallholdings of ten, 15 and 20 acres running a sustainable business in organics. There is a model for that too, but it also comes in with the agriculture. There are small growers now all around this country trying to get into organics.

The previous Senator set it out and I agree with him. We have issues, in terms of field crops, fruit crops and vegetable crops. From Bord Bia we are aware of the enormous potential for exports. People are now very interested in the source and origin of food. Equally, they are interested in the integrity and the validation process that certifies organic foods because there are questions about what is and is not clearly organic. Therefore, we must instill in the purchaser confidence in the market.

There is significant potential for developing exports. Bord Bia is doing a very good job. The Minister of State was in here only last week and we talked about that. Bord Bia's marketing strategy is an excellent one. It is very professional. It is an agency that we can be proud of in the State, in terms of its marketing and strategy and in trying to develop new markets, particularly in the organic sector.

Organic production, by its nature, can be small but it can be very big too. There are issues around soil and water management, pest and disease control. How can we have successful and good organic food that embraces the issues around pest control and disease control but that is done in an organic way? What permitted substances are allowed to be used? I refer to the certification and integrity surrounding that. We need to instill confidence in it.

The previous Senator spoke about the home market. We see the growth of artisan food markets and the markets for all of that. That is very encouraging. I see these markets all around the country. People are coming to them. They are choosing to buy organic food, but also food that they can be sure, in many cases, by meeting the growers and is sourced locally. There are enormous challenges. I would particularly like at some stage if the Minister of State would take up with his officials and advisers the area of certification, the Origin Green brand and how we can constantly reinforce this Irish brand of good, sustainable organic food, and all the issues relating to the source of integrity.

It struck me talking to a number of people that one of the big deficits in this area of organics, which the Minister of State touched on, is education and training and how young farmers and young growers can get involved. This morning I spoke to someone who works here who used to work in Teagasc, who is a small farmer in the west and who wants to go into organics, but whose problem is a lack of knowledge. How do such small farmers divest from dry stock into organics and where do they get advice, whether free or professional? How can they tap into training? I note Teagasc does good work in that area. The Minister of State talked about the farm visits and the farm internships and the partnerships. Those all are excellent but the greatest deficit in this area is education, further education and training, and good advice on animal husbandry, horticultural aspects to organics, etc.

The Minister of State mentioned three words - challenges, potential and opportunities. There are major challenges. There is a certain reluctance, but it is not because people do not want to take up and meet the challenges. It is that they need education and support in regard to organics.

There are enormous opportunities for soft fruit production, the cider sector in terms of apples, etc., and organic vegetables. These have enormous potential. I would appeal to the Minister of State to look again at how we can assist and incentivise those both in the farming sector and outsiders who want to come in at some level in a small way to organics, and how we can do that in training.

It would be remiss of me if I did not raise the green low-carbon agri-environment, GLAS, payments. I do not expect the Minister of State to give me an answer but I would appeal to him to use his good offices to push to give a commitment to honour the debt that is owed to many farmers under GLAS. They are waiting. They want to be paid. They are constantly in touch with many Members, in both this House and the other House, about their payments being honoured under GLAS. I would ask the Minister of State to use his good offices within the Department to push for the payments for those farmers who are due that money.