Ireland took a closer look at its organic food industry last week with representatives from the department of agriculture & food, Bord Bia and the Western Development Commission (WDC) hosting a forum for producers, processors, retailers and representatives of organic bodies and state agencies.
Launching the first national census of organic production, Noel Treacy, minister at the department of agriculture and food, voiced his support for the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.
"I foresee that the greater emphasis on rural development and the shift away from quantity and towards the promotion of quality production will provide organic farmers with new opportunities," he said.
Ireland, with its clean, green image and generally extensive system of farming, is well positioned to attract large scale commercially minded farmers to organic production, concluded the minister.
Meanwhile, the Irish food board, Bord Bia, took the opportunity to stress to the press and participants the new national marketing strategy for the organic sector."Sales of organic products in Ireland have reached an estimated retail level of €38 million this year. Recent research undertaken by Bord Bia of Irish consumer attitudes to organic food has delivered an extensive profile of today's organic multifaceted consumer," said Michael Duffy, chief executive of Bord Bia. "The new campaign, in collaboration with the department of agriculture, will raise its profile amongst consumers while encouraging more farmers to opt for organic production," he added.
Lisa McAllister, chief executive of the Western Development Commission, also backed organic food production in Ireland.
"We believe that organic agri-food production is particularly important to farmers in the west and as a growing sector has the potential to offer viable farming opportunities," she said.
"Through our contribution to national policy, we continue to highlight the need for appropriate funding to support the organic agri-food sector," she added.
In 2000, the WDC published the blueprint for organic food production in the west - the first such policy and action plan to be developed in Ireland.
In addition to this, Bord Bia conducted a review of organic production from both a European and an Irish viewpoint. The findings of the report, Organic Food Market - An Irish Perspective, were published in July this year.
The conference in Ireland last week represented the first major initiative under the new national marketing strategy.