Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress of the organic food sector here. [26165/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Although proportionally, the organic sector is still extremely small, the Irish organic market has witnessed strong growth levels in recent years to reach an estimated €38 million at retail level in 2003. The indications are that an annual growth rate of approximately 10% should be achievable in the Irish organic food market in the medium term. I am strongly committed to the organic sector and my Department provides a number of incentives to encourage this development, including the rural environmental protection scheme, a grant aid scheme supporting investment by farmers and processors and a demonstration farm project.