Can Organic farming deliver multiple public policy goods? Yes it can!

Catchy title, eh? (!)

�The most interesting and important result of the CAP Reform to date has been that the public consultation and communication showed that people want agriculture to deliver on public goods, people want good quality food produced in a manner which does not compromise the environment.�

That's according to Christopher Stopes, current President of IFOAM, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements.

He points out that there is some recognition of this fact at European Commission level. Their recent communication The CAP towards 2020, he states, �recognises the special quality organic farm products offer to consumers, and stresses the need to further strengthen the organic quality scheme as a policy tool�.

�If implemented in an ambitious way, this will be an asset for the future of the CAP, as organic

farming does not only provide consumers with high-quality food, but is also a comprehensive approach to deliver solutions for the challenges the Commission has so clearly lined out, including climate change, biodiversity loss, depletion of natural resources such as soil, water and nutrients, while also promoting enhanced animal welfare standards.�

Stopes was in Ireland recently, speaking in Tullamore at the rescheduled IOFGA AGM. He expanded upon these and other related points as keynote speaker at the event.

Pointing out the basic inconsistencies and failings of agriculture and food policies, he described a recent meeting with a financier who �made �150 million in speculation on grain in January this year�.

Who said there was no money in farming?

Meanwhile, 150 million more people have been pushed into hunger in the last three years than were previously.

In essence, the deregulation of markets has allowed food to be speculated upon and hoarded, even while people starve. Indeed, bumper crops in African countries can ironically and tragically lead to famine in the very country that produces the crop, through market reactions to said crop.

Exposing a lack of joined up thinking, Stopes also noted that food-related ill-health spending is the equivalent of �1/3 of the CAP budget anyway.�

Noting a kind of environmental future-proofing in the functioning of organic farms, he made an analogy: because hedges on farms allow for rotations, reduce parasites levels and increase biodiversity, Stopes describes organic farmers as �the real hedge fund managers�

Industry, he pointed out, has always been slow to warn about its own negative effects: �where have the warnings been from industry? The manufacturers didn't take it upon themselves to tell us. They stood by while the Rachael Carsons of the world actually said something�.

Comparing the organic farming and food sectors in the UK and Ireland, he pointed out that state support is stronger here than in the UK.

�In Harvest 2020, it states that organic supports should continue � organic is not even mentioned in the UK's equivalent document�

Bord Bia, he suggested, are far more supportive of organic food than their UK equivalents, the Food Standards Authority.

And the UK's DEFRA, unlike the Irish Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, do not organise a delegation to the trade show BioFach.

He hopes, however, for something of a leap of faith from organic being seen as a quality marker, as it is described in the recent CAP document, towards it being seen as a multifunctional deliverer of stated public policy goals.

While expanding Pillar 2 of the CAP offers the most hope for developing the organic sector, there are issues.

Not only does Pillar 2 receive less financial support from the overall CAP budget, �the big problem is that Pillar 2 requires co-financing by member states�. So there is �patchy support for organic policy� across the EU 27 as a result, he suggested.

The 'elephant in the living room', as it were, is the greening of Pillar 1. Traditional the domain of production only, he suggested that the greening of Pillar 1 would tie a far more significant number of public policy aims together.

For more, see IFOAM

THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS (ORGANIC WEEK)

A busy National Organic Week has left the organic sector buzzing. Plenty of well attended events, some new research, promising policy developments and upcoming opportunities have all emerged.

Early on in the week, the Picnic in the Park in Portumna (pictured, left (c) Oliver Moore) was a very positive event indeed. This was certainly an event that attracted many people who were simply out and about in the greater Galway North Tipperary and West Offaly region for the day.

And that's what was so interesting about the day; its straightforwardness. It came across as a cross between an agricultural show and a foodie eat in, with nothing especially alternative about the crowd in attendance.

Slow Food the ICSA and IOFGA were the main organisers, while many local food businesses chipped in.

All the traders were certified organic who attended, and all sold out of their food exceptionally early. The location was stunning, while the activities ranged from informative and inspiring forest walks with Andrew St.Ledger of the Woodland League to detailed discussions on the process of converting to organic with Pat Barry, Mary Lynch and a genuinely interested crowd.

In many ways, attending an event like this, one full of positivity and great food, is as useful an introduction to organic farming and food as a farm walk or a course.

The National Organic Awards were also positive, as awards often are. However it was interesting to be in a room full of businesses and agency workers who seemed quite positive about the future.

Minister of State Ciaran Cuffe's speech pointed to a renewed Green public procurement initiative, which would be incorporating organic produce.

The market's message was mixed: According to Cuffe:

�The Irish organic market is estimated to be worth about �95 million this year compared to �66 million in 2006. Admittedly the figure is down from last year, but the decrease is more in value than in volume and the trend is more or less the same as we see in the conventional sector�.

�Despite this some sectors have bucked the trend. For example, Organic Yoghurt has shown a 24% growth in volume and diary is an area that is largely supplied by domestic production.�

Bord Bia's own research, released to coincide with National Organic Week, found that 33 per cent of Irish grocery shoppers purchased an organic product in the past week, up 2% on the 2008 figure.

It also found the volume of sales steady, and that 30 per cent of these consumers are purchasing more organic food than they were last year. Sixty-two per cent were buying the same amount of organic food.

Another possible policy development is the establishment of an organic horticulture advisor. Flagged at the Teagasc National Organic Conference in Birr last Thursday, if this does come to pass it would indeed be a positive and much needed development: there is significant interest in and need for dedicated organic horticulture advisory services.

However, in a possible sign of the wavering economic times, there was much talk of the fact that efforts were being made to make this happen rather than its certainty.

Good news for cattle and sheep farmers emerged from John Purcell of the Good Herdsman, who also spoke at the Teagasc event. He revealed some areas where he felt there would be a need for animals to service organic markets: �the industry needs an extra 6000 organic cattle to make a strong presence on the European Market� he claimed.

Purcell also pointed out that by introducing a branded organic product abroad - the organic steakhouse range - Good Herdsman was able to secure a premium and avoid a commodity race to the bottom, thus avoiding competition with South American Beef.

Winter finishing off green forage offers lamb producers some opportunities too, according to Purcell. He pointed out that if 4-5000 winter lambs were finished, processors would find European markets for them.

All in all, plenty of positivity emanated from Organic week . Here's hoping it is built upon.

ITINERANT JOBS AND ADVERTS WITH CHEMISTRY: JUST ANOTHER ORGANIC WEEK

In any given week, there is an abundance of organic farming and food news, from the global to the local. Inevitably, many stories slip by. Usually, this column focuses on one main story. Instead, this week it will round up and analyze some of what's going on in the organic world.

Going global first, it turns out that for interesting reasons, independent business experts in Australia think that organic farming and food have a lot of potential.

Business information specialists IBISWorld rank growth in organic farming-related jobs as being the highest growth area for employment in Australia for 2010.

While some of these jobs are quaintly described as �itinerant� agricultural jobs, in other words transient fruit and vegetable farm hands, jobs across the spectrum are predicted, including at the business, promotion, and research ends.

Organic farming is also ranked second highest as a growth area overall, outscoring traditional big hitters like oil and gas production and health insurance.

IBISworld cite higher returns for farmers, increased ranges, increased consumer demand, and organic farming's resilience and adaptability in the face of extreme weather conditions as being positive signs for the industry.

Interesting lessons for Ireland?

At EU level, there are still a few days left to vote for what will be a mandatory EU organic logo. While this logo will be compulsory, private symbols will still be allowed after this logo is introduced.

Many have criticised the entire notion of a loosely regulated public on line vote for the organic logo.

After all, the Wolfe Tones' version of 'A Nation Once Again' topped a BBC poll for best song ever. Likewise, the recent UK Christmas number one was a song by Rage Against the Machine rather than the X factor winner. In both of these votes, committed campaigners changed the result.

More importantly perhaps, not engaging branding and copyright experts from the beginning of the logo choosing process has troubled many.

However, experts were at least engaged to whittle the entrants down to the last three: you can vote by going to either the Organic Trust or IOFGA (Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association) websites.

Speaking of which, back home, IOFGA, have launched a new, improved and very detailed website.

Along with a searchable database and a dedicated section for producers, there is also information on their school gardening initiatives and more generic information on organic food, such as news, events and links. So now, both IOFGA and Organic Trust have top notch websites.

At the organic food end of the spectrum, two little bits of history were made here in Ireland.

Ireland's first certified organic gastropub was opened in the Dundrum shopping centre. Ruairi Maguire's Bar and Organic Kitchen describes it itself as both a traditional Irish pub and a place that only serves 100% organic food.

Glenisk also made a bit of history lately, with their TV advert: surely an Irish organic company's first TV advert? This is a milestone for organic in Ireland, and the advert does look exceptionally well.

It also looks exceptionally warm, sunny and picture perfect in the advert: nice young family, lots of nature everywhere, windmills in the background � the kind of vista that looks especially appealing in the middle of a cold winter.

As a moment in time, during the clutter of a 2 minute ad break, this advert, which is called, ' it's only natural', stands out as an oasis of calm.

Explaining why they choose such a subtle approach for their first advert, Glenisk suggested that the advert encapsulates messages of family, future environmental sustainability, the soil, nature, and, yes even milk.

Interestingly, the location has been quite technologically adapted, as what you see was actually filmed, or perhaps more accurately created, in a cold Irish December.

And I couldn't help a wry smile when I noticed on the Glenisk facebook page who had made their organic ad: a company called Chemistry. That, you couldn't make up.

NEW IOFGA SITE

IOFGA, Ireland's largest organic certification body, have (finally) updated their website. It's all bells and whistles, and full of useful information.

And, seeing as the likes of greatfood.ie are in the links section, who haven't updated their organic section in about 18 months, who knows, maybe I'll be lucky enough to make it over there someday too!

have a look at the new IOFGA site: look

Singing from the same hymn sheet: Organic Ireland(s)

In his keynote address to the recent Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association (IOFGA ) AGM, Minister for Food and Horticulture Trevor Sargent made all the right soundings.

He reiterated the government commitment to the �growth and development of the organic sector�.

The Organic Farming Scheme will reopen in January 2010 and the Minister also hopes to reopen the schemes of grant aid for the development of the organic sector in January.

Minister Sargent himself is one of IOFGA's 155 new organic producer applicants.

Managing the political balance nicely, when I spoke to him at the event, he pointed out that he was getting certified by both IOFGA and the Organic Trust.

�Even though my patch is probably the smallest one in the country registered as organic I am delighted with it and enjoy all of the fresh produce that it yields though small in scale�.

This small patch is in fact extremely fertile, informative and productive: you can follow its progress, from bottling beetroot to taking everlasting cabbage cuttings, here

The Minister also pointed out that, following the committment in the Programme for Government, �a voluntary non-gm label for producers is also in the planning stages.�

The most recent figures on the numbers farming organically were presented: �1,532 organic operators in Ireland with 48,911 hectares of land under organic production methods which represents about 1.25% of overall agricultural land� according to the Minister.

He also noted that �the number of applications for the Schemes of Grant Aid for the Development of the Organic Sector has increased substantially in the last two years�. Grant aid was suspended in July, as �the applications on hand had fully taken up this year's allocation�.However, �after the new estimates are decided I hope I can re-open these Schemes in January next.�

Progress in public procurement was noted: the Marine Institute has now upped its organic menu to two days per week, while the canteen in the mothership itself, Agriculture House, has committed two days per week to organic.

The minister also reaffirmed his commitment to organic horticulture, and spoke of a �deficit of expert horticultural advice� in Ireland.

This is however questionable. Hundreds of people have actually been trained in organic horticulture in Ireland over the years, far more than in any other organic farming or growing sector.

And yet very few have transferred over to being full time field scale growers, or even market gardeners.

At times, the organic horticulture training has seemed to be as much about social inclusion and self sufficiency as about ramping up production. Laudable and all as these former motivations are, there is also surely a place for the latter.

To this end, yet more efforts are being made, including the establishment of Organic Growers of Ireland, and the emphasis on organic horticulture in the programme for government. Also, the personnel on the new organic development body Foras Organach is revealing.

Padraig Fahy, organic grower and direct seller, who is actually one of those who came through Drumcollagher organic training collage, sells organic fruits and vegetables at farmers' markets in Galway and Westmeath.

Noel Groom, chair of Foras Organach heads up a major fresh fruit and vegetable wholesaler in north county Dublin.

IOFGA also announced a new board: The new chairperson is Dr. Sinead Neiland from the Organic College in Dromcollogher.

Newly elected board members are Dominic Leonard, an organic farmer in Laois; Clare O Connor owner of Manna Organic Store in Tralee and organic grower; Gillian Westbrook Research Executive from the ICSA and Kitty Scully from the Nano Nagle Centre for Ecology and Spirituality in Cork.

In Trevor Sargent, the organic sector has a Minister who understands both its needs and its motivations. From global food security to powdery mildew in his own back garden, he is on song - singing from the organic hymn sheet. Here's hoping the organic sector is in tune.

Harvest Feast 2009: Tommy Early's organic farm biodiversity walk

One of my favourite things about autumn, along with the fact that we often get an Indian summer, is the food festivals.

There are a plethora in the south west. The season and the region begins with Mitchelstown (August 28th-30th), features a real gem with Skibbereen's a Taste of West Cork (September 14-20th ), and is bookended by the gorgeous Dingle Food and Wine festival (October 2-4th).

But if you want to get away and find a foodie haven, then try the Harvest Feast in Drumshanbo, Leitrim (September11th-13th).

According to John Brennan of the Leitrim Organic Farmers' Co-op and chair of the Festival Committee: �This year there is a real focus on the best of seasonal, local produce, on getting back to basics with gardening and cooking, and on innovative ecotourism activities.�

Now in its third year, there is a real cost saving focus at this year's Harvest Feast. This is obviously incredibly apt, considering the new omnipresent fashion for frugality.

Not only are many events free, there is also a free talk and demonstration on reducing your food bills by 30% without compromising on quality. Sian Breslin of the Donegal Manor Cookery School will reveal how to better plan your meals, how to develop recipe lists while keeping your focus on good healthy and nutritious food.

Eye catching events include the excellent 40 stall regional food market; a Neven Mcguire cookery demo; children's cookery classes and Tommy Early's organic farm walk.

Tommy Early has about 100 acres of IOFGA certified farmland. His farm is a treasure trove for nature lovers. Along with the farmland, there's lakeshore, untouched bog, wetlands and woodlands old enough to be marked on the first ordinance survey maps.

The farm stocks the rare breed Moiled cattle, which will form part of the walks. �Moiled are a dual purpose rare breed, with dappled coat, dating back to the Vikings� he tells me.

I asked Tommy Early about how and why he started doing biodiversity walks on his beautiful, lakeshore farm: �We have the perfect spot for it: we're on the shore of Lough Allen. A lot of the habitats haven't changed - none of it was ever intensively farmed�.

�Along with that, the land is marginal. Marginal land, especially the boggy land, is the first to get wet and the last to dry.�

He continues �And with the summer's we've been having, its getting more and more difficult to cut silage. So I think there's potential in nature tourism�

He seems to be thinking correctly. The farm now hosts school tours, various nature appreciation groups and the broad Harvest Feast walks, which covers a wide range of events.

From a farmer perspective, he tells me that �this sort of tourism is fairly low cost. There are a number of walks on the farm, due to its diversity. We could do heritage, birds, bats, historical: you could develop it from several angles�.

He now even has moth tourism. A bird expert told a moth expert, photographer Philip Strickland, and now people visit to experience the fantastic range of moths on the site.

The light hand with which Tommy has farmed allows incredibly rare and delicate flora and fauna to flourish.

�With moths, its all to do with variety of habitats. The healthier and longer established they are the better: Some moths can only live in habitats that are a couple of hundred years old.�

�We're preserving the bog, and have changed some drains which has created ponds. The bog is also untouched � it was never harvested. We have a rare species of butterfly called March Fritillary�.

�On the lakeshore of Lough Allen we've a rare orchid � the Irish Ladies Tresses. That only flowers after a flood and without too much rain following it. It might only flower every couple of years. We've been maintaining the shoreline to promote the orchid.�

Its sensitive work, requiring a light hand, but combines well with an organic approach and ethos.

For more see: here or ring 071 9640868

National Organic Awards: 2009 entries now open

See below for info on the upcoming National Organic awards.

Now in their third year the National Organic Awards are recognised as an important feature in the organic food and drink industry calendar. The objective of the awards is to recognise the achievements, and raise the profile, of Irish organic food and drink manufacturers. The awards were established as part of the National Organic Plan under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food and Bord Bia and last year attracted 100 entries from organic companies nationwide.

Entry forms and more info are now available for the 2009 Awards here. The categories for this year�s awards are:

Best Organic Retail Product;

Best Organic Local Product;

Best Organic Export Product;

Best Organic New Product; Best Sustainable Organic Product and

Best Overall Organic Product.

Entries must be registered as organic under EU regulations as well as being certified by Organic Trust, IOFGA or Marketecology (IMO). All products must also be manufactured in Ireland with the essential raw material sourced in Ireland. Closing date for entries is Friday August 21st.

All entries will be critiqued by an expert panel of judges including Hugo Arnold, food writer; Evan Doyle, proprietor, Brooklodge & Wells Spa; Cian Doorley, Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland; Dr Oliver Moore, journalist, researcher and organic blogger and Darren Grant, proprietor, The Organic Supermarket. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Bord Bia in early September.

Media Contact:

Nicola Donnelly

Corporate Communications

DD: 01 6142258 | Mob: 087 9703678

the end of REPS : implications for organic farmers

Organic farmers are still reeling from the twin cuts in REPS and the Organic Grant Aid scheme.

According to Kate Carmody, Chairperson of IOFGA, �many farmers had been finishing up their current REPS plans and were waiting to join REPS 4 and convert to organic farming. We currently have many members who are finalising their applications for grant aid and IOFGA are very disappointed with the short notice given to announce that the scheme was closing�.

Some organic farmers I have spoken to have claimed that they were advised by their REPS planners not to try to transfer out from REPS 3 to REPS 4, as the waiting lists were said to be too long.

This, coupled with the fact that some farmers did manage to transfer successfully from REPS 3 to REPS 4 has especially angered farmers.

It is now the case that some farmers will have five years of funding, totaling tens of thousands of euros, while competing in the cattle mart with neighbours with no such cushion. Farmers have described this situation as anti competitive.

IOFGA also felt that it was very important to mention that REPS and the Organic Farming Scheme are separate, and that the Organic Farming Scheme is still very much open:

�We would like to point out that the Organic Farming Scheme is still open to people and overall we are hopeful that the stability within the organic sector given the current economic difficulties will still encourage people to convert to organic production and help the market realise its potential here in Ireland.

The Organic Trust has been especially vocal in its criticism: �The Organic Trust have expressed very serious concerns about the closure of REPS 4 as this will adversely affect the on-farm incomes of 33,000 farmers over the next 2-3 years. This will have a devastating affect on the rural economy and the horrific consequences of this decision across the Irish economy generally will become evident very soon.�

They point out that farmers in REPS 2 and 3 farmers �would have had a valid expectation that they could enter REPS 4 on the completion of their REPS 3� and that they are now at a �severe disadvantage� because of �this arbitrary decision� which, they suggest, was not as a result of any �fair or equitable selection process.�

Specifically in relation to organic farmers, according to Helen Scully of the Organic Trust: �900 organic producers in REPS 3/2 will have their incomes significantly reduced when their REPS 3/2 contracts end which will undoubtedly have an adverse affect on the modus operandi of those farms - farms which are producing top class organic food in a sustainable and responsible manner.�

While many have suggested that the ending of REPS will have negative consequences as regards government aims for increasing organic farming's land base from 1 to 5%, the situation is not entirely clear cut.

It may also be the case that the Organic Farming Scheme will now appear more attractive than it previously did. This may especially be the case for what will be an increasing yearly number of former REPS farmers.

The lack of REPS money may in fact lead to a rush towards the Organic Farming Scheme: less intensive sheep and beef farmers may see it as one of the few remaining funding options.

This could have implications as regards sustaining what there is of a price premium in beef and sheep.

This then could lead to relative over-subscriptions and corollary pressures on available funding.

However in a context of a government target of 5%, it would be incredible if funding was not available to cope with an influx of farmers: increased numbers are inevitable with a move towards 5%, and this will incur costs for the state.

Should such a rush occur, it is likely that, with the ending of the grant aid for organic, beef and sheep will continue to be the main area of new conversions to organic.

New organic recruits: a lot done....

There has been a significant increase in the number of new applicants for conversion to organic, according to the two main certification bodies.

May 15th was the deadline for both the Organic Farming Scheme, and for REPS 4. The majority of organic farmers are in REPS, though it is no longer a technical requirement.

Some of the figures below are complicated by the fact that organic farmers often have mixed enterprises. It is also the case that these are preliminary and approximate, rather than final figures.

(photo: Am I boaring you?: by Steve Ford Elliott for attribution see here, for more of his work see here)

That said, both Organic Trust and the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association (IOFGA ) are pleased with progress.

According to IOFGA, they received about 150 new applicants. This is up from last year's 100, and the previous year's figure, which was just under 80.

This represents an increase of about 15% on their current membership of approximately 1000, or an increase of 50% on the numbers converting last year.

�The majority of the new applicants are livestock farmers� according to Angela Clarke, certification manager of IOFGA. �Most of these are beef farmers, with some sheep farmers as well�.

She points out that more of these applicants are growing grain for feed than in previous years.

Geographically, most IOFGA applicants this year have come from the west and north west.

Horticulture numbers remain small, with about 10 new applicants. However, of this number, there was no large, field scale operator who applied to convert.

Similarly, there were few dairy farmers opting for the organic option, with �about five� choosing this route. Even this is significant, however, as there are less than 20 in the republic at present.

IOFGA did not report significant new processors, retailers, seafood companies or exporters.

On the other hand, the Organic Trust have new applicants from processing, including meat processing and food businesses more generally.

They also claimed to have �a number of new retailers� and an organic soil conditioner according to Helen Scully, National Co-ordinator and Certification Manager.

A new trend for the Trust is applicants incorporating pigs into their enterprises.

Otherwise, there are similarities. Very few applicants in horticulture, with most for the Trust being from mixed enterprises.

While last year's deadline saw tillage farmers apply, this year they report no major moves in this sector.

Like IOFGA, most applicants were in beef and sheep. Their geographical spread is wide, and more balanced that other years, according to Helen Scully. However, there are still, for the Organic Trust, laggard counties such as Louth and Donegal.

In total, Organic Trust report an increase of 11% in their membership. Organic Trust are thought to have close to 500 members on their books at present.

The new certification body, IMO, remain in the aquaculture sector only, and have not yet received applicants from other sectors.

Because they are a global certification organisation involved in certification across many areas, those involved in export and processing are likely to be their main target area in the future.

There are a number of positives in these figures. They suggest that organics has grown since 2005, despite the recent recession.

Collective initiatives in upland livestock, the north west and in diary which may also increase the numbers.

However, it is still a slow rate of growth when compared to the plan in the programme for government of 5% land area converted to organic by 2012. At the current 1%, this remains an ambitious target.

As this 5% figure is for land area not productive capacity, the conversion of an Grianin, with 2500 acres next year, will be significant in adding to the figures.

Some in the organic sector, particularly in horticulture, have criticised the fact that the figure is land area based. They complain that as it may be possible to reach 5% but not increase production of organic food in Ireland significantly. Organic horticulture as an example can produce large amounts of food on a very small area of land.

As the always apt Fianna fail albatross proclaimed: A lot done, more to do.

Organic Growers of Ireland established

�We just felt that we we're being represented, so we decided to do something about it�.

So says Jason Horner, founder member and driving force behind a new group called Organic Growers of Ireland.

Their steering group consists of many high profile names in organics. Along with Jason, the group features Siobhan Morris (consultant), Padraig Fahy (grower, former IOFGA chair), Cait Curran (grower, trainer and editor of Organic Matters) and Laszlo Kenderesi (organic trainer).

Thus far, this new representative organisation has found a receptive audience amongst organic growers.

�I brought 40 handouts to the recent NOTS conference, but we had more than twice that turn up� according to Jason Horner.

Another indicator of both the interest and the need in representing organic horticulture is the response OGI got to their initial expression of interest letter.

�30 people got back straight away, the vast majority of whom were growers� according to Jason.
He goes on � at the NOTS conference, we circulated a questionnaire: we got 66 responses from the 80 people in room, and most were interested in getting involved.�

Jason also points out that over half of these were registered growers, with others also being involved in the sector, including students of the organic colleges, organic advisors and consultants.

Jason was also keen to point out that OGI is �non aligned. We're independent politically and financially, and will try to represent all growers equally�. He points out that they will be open to members of both IOFGA and the Organic Trust.

The organisation aims to represent the needs and views of the organic horticulture sector. It also lists the following objectives:
To support effective and dynamic promotion of organic produce
To identify training needs of growers
To share practical and market information and facilitate networking between members.
To improve access to technical information on organic horticulture
To encourage new entrants to organic production

In the next short while, OGI aims to take specific actions to start achieving its aims. It will aim to establish an interactive website, with discussion board, blogs, buying and selling areas as well as areas for technical advice specific to Ireland.

While this might sound like par for the course, in reality organic growers are amongst the most internet-savvy of the entire farming community:

A similar orgnaisation in the UK, one which Jason has already had dealings, the Organic Growers Alliance, has 160 members on its books: only 3 are listed as non-internet users.

OGI will also develop an Action Plan. Both Teagasc and the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (DAFF) have organic action plans.

However organic growers I have spoken to have been annoyed at the complete lack of horticulture in the Teagasc plan, and the lack of concrete, tangible horticulture actions in the DAFF plan.

An example of the forgotten nature of the organic horticulture sector is the fact that the plan for converting 5% of Ireland to organic is area rather than productivity-based. Inevitably, this mitigates against the more concentrated and productive horticultural sector, compared to more extensive sectors such as sheep and beef.

Following on from this, OGI aims to have representation on the various organic-specific steering, advisory and marketing groups.

There will also be a media dimension: they aim to make accessible the UK OGA magazine for members, as much but not all of the technical info will transfer. They will also look to inputing into that publication.

Likewise, OGI will be aiming to contribute regularly to the Irish farming and organic farming press.

Another action is to establish farm walks � both Jason Horner and Padraig Fahy have held Teagasc organic farm walks in recent years.

A further development to this is their desire to conduct study trips to the UK, where the organic horticulture sector is more developed.

Forever upbeat, Jason finished on a positive note: �The market is there, you only have to look at the level of imports. So in a sense, the market is established. I do believe there is capacity to grow�.

To contact OGI, (email only) irishorganicgrowers@gmail.com

IOFGA and the Soil Association: Lilliput and Brobdingnag sing in harmony

(pictured are Patrick Holden of the Soil Association and Minister for Food Trevor Sargent, at the IOFGA AGM in 2008: picture copyright Oliver Moore)

The Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association (IOFGA) has formally established a co-operative link with the UK's Soil Association.

This means that the largest certification bodies in Ireland and the UK have agreed to work together.

This arrangement will allow IOFGA access to the extensive research and development programme of the Soil Association.

According to IOFGA chair Kate Carmody, accessing Soil Association market information will be especially useful for IOFGA and its membership: �They have a huge up-to-date database of information on marketing which they have allowed us to access.�

The arrangement will also give IOFGA access more information on organic farming and growing, certification and the promotion of organic food.

According to the organisation �this is of growing importance given the increasing complexity of EU regulations governing the organic sector and it will be especially relevant when dealing with the complex requirements of the food processing and manufacturing industry.�

According to Carmody, the arrangement � has come about because of a long standing relationship with the Soil Association. We have essentially the same standards and we always work together. People prefer equivalence, so its logical to have a reciprocal relationship. A lot of companies want the process to be done to the Soil Association standard.�

This new arrangement could mean that product certified in Ireland will be considered equivalent to Soil Association product in the UK. This could eliminate duplication in the inspection and certification process.

�Both organisations will retain their autonomy under the agreement whilst working together in areas of mutual interest� Carmody points out.

From IOFGA's perspective, this will surely be important. The Soil Association are a far larger and better resourced organisation that IOFGA, with a presence in Northern Ireland already.

They are the largest certifier in the UK � their logo appears on 70% of British organic produce. They employ over 180 staff based in their Bristol headquarters, in regional centres and working as certification inspectors across the UK.

Along with certification, the Soil Association also carry out campaign work in a number of areas: they list these as genetic engineering in food; animal welfare; pesticides; threats to wildlife from intensive agriculture; antibiotics; the closure of small abattoirs; the harmful effects of intensive farming on food quality and safety; and finally setting standards to ensure the integrity of organic food and other products.

Genetic engineering/modification (GM) seems to be a particular bugbear of theirs: Helen Taylor, director of marketing and corporate relations with the Soil Association, spoke at the the National Organic conference in November 2006, held in Carrick on Shannon. She suggested that one third of their campaigning budget goes on fighting GM.

As an organisation, they have placed a particular emphasis on the consumer. Two recent high profile issues they have focused on include air freight and what they call one planet agriculture.
A variety of agri-food, consumer, environmental and business/trade interests were involved in the consultation the organisation carried out on air freight. Their decision to couple air freight and fair trade showed their environmental and social justice credentials to many. To others, especially those involved in importing and exporting products, the Soil Association had stepped way beyond their remit

The One Planet Agriculture is a broad sustainability in food campaign, part of their 'beyond organic' focus.

For the organic operator, they are a veritable one stop shop. Along with the full certification service and the marketing, research and development work already mentioned, they also: run 90 demonstration farms; represent and work for various sub sectors within organic from growers to processors; produce the quarterly magazine Organic Farming; and provide numerous specialist resources for business development.

Whilst IOFGA do have a development officer, the magazine Organic Matters and do as much campaigning as they can, in reality certification takes up the vast majority of their time.

However both IOFGA and the Soil Association do have the bigger picture as well as the small individual operator within their self defined remit. So there are sister organisations in essence. Irish organic farmers will surely benefit from the extra resources they now have access to.

IOFGA are here
SA are here

EU parliment votes on pesticides

The long awaited vote on the use and classification of pesticides in the EU was held on the 13th January.

The vote was opposed by Spain, Hungary, the UK and Ireland. The deal struck will,
according to the EU news portal EurActiv, will : �lead to a ban of a number of hazardous substances that pose a potential threat to human health and the environment�. It will also oblige �member states to embrace more sustainable use of pesticides�.

The EU Commission welcomed the Parliament�s decision, stating that �the new legislation will increase the protection of human health and the environment, will lead to a better protection of agricultural production and will extend and deepen the single market of plant protection products�

The package has yet to be formally adopted by the Council, which remains divided over the issue, despite a compromise reached in December.
That compromise deal divided up Europe into three mutual recognition zones - north, centre and south. Member states will still be allowed to ban specific products.
Indeed, that December deal would still allow for the use of pesticides due to be banned for up to five years, if they are proven to be what is considered essential for crop survival.
Otherwise, operators have three years to replace products containing certain hazardous substances, provided safer alternatives can be shown to exist.

Member states will have to adopt national action plans on pesticide use, and to work towards usage reduction and the establishment of appropriate measures such as protection of nature and establishment of buffer zones. Limitations will also be placed on the public use of pesticides.
Most of the debate has centred on price of food production and on the change from a risk to a hazard-based system.

When queried about the issue, our own Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Food claimed that �the proposed hazard-based system will limit the number and type of plant protection products on the market without contributing to any significant reduction in overall operator, bystander, consumer or environmental exposures�.

They also pointed out that �some substances, which may fail to meet the criteria, are crucial to crop protection in Ireland.�

Withdrawal of products �is likely to cause significant agronomic and economic damage, will lead to a significant adverse impact on crop protection, will limit the range of chemistry available to avoid the build-up of resistance and will result in dramatically reduced crop yields� they suggested.

Most of the support for the change in legislation has come from environmental and health NGOs, and the organic farming and food sectors.

After the vote last week, Ireland�s largest certification body, the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association (IOFGA) �welcomed the 13th January vote in the EU Parliament to tighten the rules governing pesticide use and to ban the use of 22 chemicals deemed to be harmful to human health.�

They also stated that �the banned substances have been associated with causing cancer or having the potential to interfere with the human reproductive or hormonal
systems.

Kate Carmody Chairperson of IOFGA stated, �IOFGA welcomes the fact that the EU Parliament has put the protection of human health first, in banning these potentially dangerous pesticides many of which are endocrine disruptors. They did this despite extensive lobbying from the agrichemical industry.�

She also pointed out that �the fact that there is a thriving and growing organic farming sector in Ireland and across the EU which does not rely on pesticides proves that they are not necessary for the production of quality food.�

A qualified biochemist with a family history in the profession dating back to the 1830s, Carmody also stated that �we should remember that pesticides are essentially poisons which are routinely sprayed on crops in conventional agriculture. Do we really want to spray these on our food?�

pic from: www.citizenscampaign.org

New organic certifier announced for Ireland: IMO

Earlier this month, the Institute of Marketecology (IMO) were approved to operate in Ireland as a new organic certification body.

IMO are a large globally recognised certification body, for whom organic is just one area.

This again brings to three the number of organic certification bodies in Ireland: until quite recently, the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association (IOFGA) and Organic Trust were accompanied by Demeter Standards, the certification branch of the Biodynamic Association of Ireland.

IMO has been active in the field of organic certification for more than 20 years. Their world-wide activities are accredited by the Swiss Accreditation Service (SAS).

Thus far, IMO have had a presence in Ireland through certification of aquaculture products as organic to the private German-based Naturland standard. Irish Companies such as Atlantic Fare list Naturland amongst their certification bodies.

According to Minister for Food Trevor Sargent TD, who announced the arrival of IMO as a certification body, �With the inclusion of aquaculture within the scope of the new Organic Regulation from 1 January 2009, there should be opportunities to expand the organic aquaculture sector and IMO�s approval is therefore timely.�

The issues facing the seafood sector have been outlined elsewhere in this edition, and indeed in last weeks. This boost for the organic aquaculture industry in Ireland is noteworthy, especially as this particular sector does indeed seem poised for action.

Take for example the attendees at the upcoming BioFach event, Europe�s largest organic trade show. Each year, over 2500 exhibitors and 45,000 visitors attend the show in Germany.

Historically, Ireland�s representation at BioFach has been very poor. While the exception has actually been the seafood sector, this year, their presence has increased.

At the upcoming exhibition in February, the vast majority of the 20�odd Irish attendees registered thus far are seafood related, from seafood companies such as Irish Seaspray to suppliers of feed to the sector.

While they have a strong base in seafood, IMO�s potential expansion beyond aquaculture would make for interesting times for the other certification bodies in Ireland. IMO claims to have representatives in over 30 countries and activities in over 90 countries.

Their global clients include US-based Whole Foods and Dr. Bonner. Their relationship with Wholefoods led to the Whole Trade Guarantee program, which includes both social justice and environmental dimensions.

This reflects trends at the global organic movement level, through the activities and statements of organisations like IFOAM, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, who are the umbrella group for organic organisations across the world.

On the ground, however, organic certification bodies are constrained by their resources and remit.

Many in indigenous organic organisations feel frustrated that they are essentially doing the state�s work - certification � rather than any of the other myriad areas for which they have little time. These include educational, promotional, representational, supportive, advocatory or advisory.

It is also unclear what the consumer will make of another certification body. At present in Ireland, recognition of the two Irish-based certification logos is very low � lower than that of the UK�s Soil Association logo in fact.

According to the research, for the Irish consumer, the word organic is �the logo�. Soon, the consumer will have yet another logo to decipher, the mandatory EU logo, which is currently being redrawn.

It is also of course the case that arrival of another certification body will be hailed as welcome competition. This may be so.

However, there has been competition between IOFGA and the Organic Trust for many years. All the while, this competition was accompanied by calls for one organic organisation, as well as calls for the organisations to work more closely together.

Just how a pan-global organisation will adapt to the nuances and peculiarities of the Irish situation remains to be seen. They can of course point to expertise in this area, having representatives in so many countries.

And with the UK�s Soil Association possibly sounding out its own arrival into the Irish organic certification scene, those considering the organic option may soon have a veritable a la carte menu to choose from.

All I want for christmas....

Before I start my annual christmas list to santy, if you are interested in accessing the most recent organic steering committee report, it's available here

(Pic is from young greens site of a green santy on grafton street)

for the previous wish list, click here

Now for the serious stuff:

Dear Santy
Wow. What a year eh? A real 'may you live in interesting times' of a year. I'm writing this to you from a state of mild confusion. Hopefully you'll understand what I mean, and I'll get some of these organic gifts from you.

I'm confused santy, because I thought that organic and conventional were different. Apparently you can even be sent to jail for claiming to be organic if you are not. There are people employed to go around inspecting operators to make sure they actually are organic to the letter of the law. And yet, when it came time for the Arnold Schwarzenegger-like Total Recall of pork products, they also recalled organic pork too Santy.

So this coming year, for Christmas, I'd love for differentiation between organic and conventional to actually mean something. I think the consumer has actually been more confused by organic pork's sudden disappearance, as they must surely have thought all along that that organic pigs eat different food to conventional ones. What must they think now?

Along with this Santy, I'd love some organic cosmetics. Or health and beauty products as they are usually called. For herself of course � I prefer the more rugged look myself.

Both certification bodies in Ireland now have the right to certify for organic cosmetics, making themselves and the Soil Association in the UK world leaders it seems. All the Irish ones need now are products!

I'd also love for the gift of continued organic growth of organics, if you know what I mean. So hopefully once the farmers can start converting again on New Year's Day � as one of their new year's resolutions - there will be a flood of them Santy. Queues out the door of the IOFGA and Organic Trust offices longer than the Dole queues � that's what we want.

Also, if you could give Minister Sargent the gift of a ring fence around the money he's managed to keep for organic farmers, that would be absolutely great Santy. In fact, make it an electric ring fence, and give him a few high voltage cattle prods. He's going to need them. That would cover a lot. I know I'm giving away a present there, Santy, but giving is a gift in itself.

It seems there is nothing but negative talk and thinking these days Santy. Everyone seems to think that food with ethical values will be the first thing to go. They keep saying 'in the current economic climate' or in these 'recessionary times' as if that means � �stop thinking about frilly little exotic irrelevancies like the planet � we have an economy to protect�.

But Santy, organic is the food of the future - the oil won't last forever. Even Teagasc research points out that organic makes sense for both the planet and the farmer. I know cos I was at their recent conference, and organic farmers are making just as much money as their conventional counterparts. In fact, organic cattle farmers are making up to 56% more. And most still do this while doing a better job environmentally.

I'm sure someone out there was asking for a reduction in the price of feeds, fertilizers and fuels, but there are environmental costs in all of these Santy. I'm not so sure that that's all good news. Your reindeer's don't seem to need any of these to keep themselves going � a bit like those mountain sheep and cattle. I'd love to see more of them going organic Mr Claus � they might as well be. Organic would suit both their farming restrictions and their terrain. They'd get a great mark up if they converted, so they would.

And what about that EU pesticide review? I think you can guess what I want on that one. That might even things up between conventional and organic Mr. Claus. Organic might not seem so expensive then, eh?

Overall Santy, I suppose I might as well ask for a lot, as you do seem to give me want I want when I ask. In other years, I was very suprised at how generous you were. Please keep up the good work.

Yours in expectation more than hope

Ollie

Farm Fest 08: organics comes of age

If ever there was an event that represented the coming of age of the artisan and organic sectors in Ireland, then it was Teagasc�s Farm Fest 08, held in Athenry on the 20^th June last. And if the Ploughing championship could be compared to the Oxygen music festival, then Farm Fest was the Electric Picnic.

This is because the otherwise more boutique, small, niche, high-end and specialist was actually centre stage. While all of the main players from the agri-food world were at the event, the main marquee, and by far the busiest and liveliest of the locations at Farm Fest, was the place where the organic producers were.

This marquee was called �innovation and artisan food�. Interestingly, the word organic wasn�t in the Marquee�s name, despite the fact that the majority of stalls, by a considerable distance, were by or of interest to organic and artisan producers.

The place seemed young, active, dynamic and positive about the future. In other arenas, people had heated debates over one cent. In this marquee, people seemed to know and love their product, and seemed able to convince consumers to pay a fair price for it.

In most cases, the farmers here were food producers � they did something to their primary products and got a proper mark up for so doing. In one section of the marquee there was Noodle House Organic Pastas, Gerry and Mary Kelly�s Moonshine organic diary products, both sitting alongside Ralph Haslam�s Mossfield Cheeses. The food producers themselves were all present and accounted for, dealing with enthusiastic and interested consumers, curious farmers and an array of media.

For Ralph, Bruce Springsteen�s decision to buy copious amounts of Mossfield when here recently seems to have catapulted the cheese into the culinary stratosphere. When I dropped by, Valerie Cox from RTE radio 1 was chatting to him. Within five minutes, during which time I devoured some hearty slices of his mature gouda-style cheese, TV3 had dropped over to find out about the Bruce Springsteen cheese.

And considering the fact that at he has done so well at the World Cheese Awards, Ralph is looking forward to the event being held in Dublin later on this year.

Another set of products attracting attention were those of Solaris botanicals. Here, a range of leading-edge organic whole leaf teas were on display and available to taste. The business is run by Karin Wieland and Jorg Muller, a couple who are qualified medical herbalists. As well as a simply spectacular range of teas, their knowledge, skill and passion were also on display.

There was a strong interest in organic feeds and seeds, while many of the main organisations involved in the organic sector had a presence too, including IOFGA, NOTS (National Organic Training Skillnets), as well as the Wexford and Leitrim Organic Centres.

The rural development, artisan and organic ends of the state institutions such as DAFF, Teagasc and Bord Bia were also busy and present, taking up a whole area of the marquee itself.

Along with the wandering and chatting, there was business being done:

Joe Condon of Omega Beef Direct was flat out gathering potential recruits for his upland farming �Organics with Altitude� idea, (featured in this supplement two weeks ago). Martin Henry and Liam Lyons had their recently purchased organic mobile butchers� unit outside the marquee in the market area � it took me five visits just to have a quick word with Liam. Padraig Fahy of Beechlawn Organic Farm seemed as busy with his vegetable selling and interactions with various players in the organic sector as when he was chair of IOFGA.

The artisan stalls were super busy too: Glastry Farm�s artisan ice cream stand, all the way from the county Down, was absolutely trobbing, as was the Foods of Athenry stall from just down the road.

When I did leave the �Innovation and Artisan Food� arena, it occasionally did look like the Electric Picnic, with some of the same food stalls, surrounded by entertainment like wooden toy tnets, a kids zone, Connemara Pony displays and then all the other marquees.

It was a beautiful day in many ways. Great weather helps, but the contented feeling of a sector on the rise helped too.

New organic training scheme to be available nationwide

A new organisation called NOTS, the National Organic Training Skillnet was launched in Dublin by the Minister for Food and Horticulture Trevor Sargent TD on Tuesday 22^nd April last.

NOTS, which was launched in the European Commission Offices, has a 2 year training budget of �� million.

The programme is a joint venture between IOFGA, The Organic Trust and The Western Organic Network.

The National Organic Training Skillnet builds on the success of the Western Organic Network, which has rolled out training in the west and north west of Ireland to farmers either already involved in or considering converting to organic.

Following a needs analysis and reports into growth blockages in the organic sector, an innovative, affordable and business focused training programme has been developed by NOTS to cater for training needs across Ireland.

The Minister expressed his hope that this new programme would lead to more farmers producing organic food here in Ireland thus contributing to job creation, a reduction in the energy usage and enabling opportunities for both for import substitution and export.

The National Organic Training Skillnet (NOTS) based in Drumshambo, Co. Leitrim is managed by a network manger and assisted by two regional co-ordinators representing the South East and South West of Ireland - Paula Pender and

Doloras Keegan. Paula runs Sonas Organic Gardens Carlow, specialising in protected cropping and vegetables,

Dolorus has a long lineage in organics in Ireland. She was integral to the delivery of training in the Organic Centre, Rossinver, Leitrim for many years. She has also been involved in training people in herb and vegetable growing in east Galway and on Inis Mhor with the Garra� na nOile�n initiative.

According to manager Sean McGloin: �The new programme will run to the end of 2009 addressing the practical skills required by organic and aspiring organic operators and also delivering academic courses through distance learning programmes to master�s degree standard�.

�The courses provided are flexible in their geographic location, dates and course duration.�

The courses on offer are literally an A-Z of what people may want in the sector. All production areas from the smallest to the largest will be catered for. The range goes from bee keeping and cheese making to cereal growing and a selection of livestock- orientated trainings, such as veterinary management and grassland and soil management.

Along with this, a suite of business and marketing training will be offered, including accounts, IT, desk top publishing, and marketing itself.

Sean also pointed out that there was a great desire for training in the south and south west. Another change in the training delivery from the previous deliveries with the Western Organic Network will be training for the processing sector.

Larger organic and organic-related businesses, or groups of farmers, may benefit from specialised suites of tailored training to suit their needs.

Steering group chairperson John Brennan said �for the first time, training which has been provided in the West of Ireland is now available in the South, East and Midlands, lack of skills has been identified as a stumbling block to organic farming. This programme should address any training need of both the existing organic sector and those considering converting to organics�.

�I encourage framers and producers to contact the NOTS Management team for further information on training�.

For further information, please contact:

Sean McGloin � Network Manger

The Enterprise Centre, Hill Road, Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim

Office Tel: 071 96 40688

Mobile: 086 1728442

Email: info@nots.ie

www.nots.ie

Organic by May 15th or not til next year!

Farmers considering converting over to organic this year have a May 15^th Deadline to have their applications with the Department. The EU commission have imposed this deadline on Ireland to streamline EU-wide agri-environmental payments, including REPS and the Organic Farming Scheme.

According to Minister Sargent, �once we have the applications by 15 May we can process them. If this happens, then �farmers will be in a position to receive payment under the new Scheme during 2008.�

According to the Department, the new Commission regulations also lay down rules for the way in which farmers will be paid under the Organic Farming Scheme:

• Payment will be on a calendar year basis; in other words a farmer will be paid for the number of months in the year in which he or she is in the Scheme.

• Payment will be in two stages. The first payment, which will be at the rate of 75%, will be released when the administrative checks (both for the Scheme itself and for the Single Payment Scheme) are completed. In practice this is likely to be early autumn.

• The remaining 25% will be released when the last of the on-farm inspections for the year has taken place. This is likely to be towards the end of the year, probably December.

All undertakings will have an anniversary date of 1 January. Minister Sargent emphasised that the new deadline and payment rules applied to all farmers joining the Scheme, whether or not they intended to join REPS 4 as well.

The organic certification bodies have responded to the announcement of this deadline with an understandable mixture of annoyance and pragmatism.

According to the larger of the two certification bodies, IOFGA: �the announcement that the deadline for entrants to REPS 4 is May 15^th will seriously limit the growth of the organic farming sector this year�.

They suggest that the short timeframe involved �is not realistic as many potential members had hoped to join the scheme throughout the year or had planned to do so once their current REPS Plan had finished later in the year. The late nature of this announcement and the fact that it coincides with the busy spring period means that many farmers will defer going organic until next year.�

They also suggest that this will have an adverse effect on both the government�s 5% organic target for 2012, and on the consumer�s growing desire for good quality Irish organic product.

Helen Scully, certification manager with the Organic Trust was perhaps more pragmatic in her response: �The Organic Trust will be able to facilitate those producers who wish to avail of the May 15th deadline - simply forward completed documentation to the office and it will be processed in a very timely manner�.

For farmers who won�t be ready for the 15^th May, Helen pointed out that �organics is for the long-haul and a decision based on some and not all of the salient facts could present difficulties down the road. When the information and research phases have been completed� (those who want to convert to organic) can then organise to have their conversion plans drawn up over the coming months and submitted to the Organic Trust in December 2008, ready for a January 1st 2009 start date.�

If you can�t make the 15^th May deadline, according to Helen, �don't put the plans to convert your farm to organic production on the back burner - stay with the process and use the June to November period to copper-fasten plans for conversion; to become familiar with the details of the specific conversion plan and to study the organic standards. Plan to have everything ready to submit to the Organic Trust in November/December 2008 so that a January 1st 2009 conversion start date can be availed of.�

While this deadline will put them under strain, it is my understanding that both certification bodies will endeavour to deal efficiently will promptly with all applications.

Organic Trust 01 8530271 www.organic-trust.org

IOFGA: 043 42495 www.iofga.org

Links on the left for both

IOFGA Conference 2007

Leading food writer John McKenna has called for the resignation of Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) executives who recently described organic food as "a lifestyle choice".

Echoing ex-British environment minister David Milliband, the FSAI stated that organic food "is really a lifestyle choice. There is no bad food and no good food, but the key is a balanced diet."

McKenna, provocative and polemical in equal measure, labasted conventional agriculture, suggested that it was dressed up chemical farming.

These words and many more were uttered at the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association's (IOFGA) food seminar and AGM, held in Mellow's College, Athenry, Co. Galway, recently.

Well attended and upbeat, as many organic events are these days, it attracted about 150 people to hear an assortment of orators cover a diversity of topics, from GM and soil quality, to history, climate change and the benefits of the organic path.

Minister of State with responsibility for organic farming, Trevor Sargent, spoke of the need for better training to be developed in organic horticulture and tillage, of the fossil fuel dependency of conventional farming, and even of switching some departmental consumption of food over to organic. He also suggested at a recent local food conference that State institutions should consider serving some organic options. Dr Charles Merfield from Teagasc spoke about soil health. "Merf" � as New Zealander Dr Merfield prefers to be called � is knowledgeable and infectiously enthusiastic. Did you know that, according to Merf, a kilometer of ploughed soil contains 10 billion bacteria, 10,000 kilometres of fungal growth, and immeasurable levels of algae. And only 6% of soil life is categorised.

Considering how utterly dependent we are on soil, our understanding of how it functions is "heart stoppingly thin", said Merf. He suggested that soil science is only now coming of age. Previously it was just soil chemistry, whereas now it encompasses physics, biology, ecology and chemistry.

Soil is central to so much of what happens on the planet: the carbon cycle, life and ecoystems, maintaining landscapes, food production, water storage and filtration, and bioremediation (the locking away of toxins). According to Merf, science has come to agree with the organic movement's vision of soil; and society is hopefully following. "Never treat soils like dirt!" he concluded.

Peter Melchett, a former minister in the Labour administration in Britain, who is a 900-acre farmer and policy director with the Soil Association, spoke about the threat of climate change, and the role of organic farming in its mitigation.

He also referred to the global threat of genetically engineered food and the need for direct action to halt it. According to Melchett, comprehensive research had not been carried out to evaluate the impact of GM food on the environment, or animal and human health.

Michael Hickey spoke about the previous 25 years of IOFGA, as well as the future. He was one of the first native Irish members of the organisation, founded in 1982. Most members back then came from other countries and were described as "blow ins". Michael and a brave few others joined this merry band of homesteaders by the mid-1980s, when the organic movement was changing.

Around then, Irish farmers started to join, an era of professionalism was initiated, and governmental recognition began to emerge.

As ever, one of the first items on the agenda was a split, with Michael in the thick of it. And yet, the organic movement carried on, developed, and now, as Michael said, "IOFGA will no longer be an organisation acting on the fringes."

With 150 people turning up on a Sunday morning in November in Co. Galway to hear people talk about the challenge, the politics, the science and the history of organics, who can argue with him?

local and organic food events

Things to do this November, starting tomorrow!

A conference themed around local food. This event, organised by the Department of Agriculture and Bord Bia, begins at the very specific time of 5.30pm, and is being held in the Mullingar Park Hotel, Dublin Rd, Mullingar on Tuesday November 13^th (go here to register).

Speakers: That man Trevor Sargent will be there again, this time opening the event and also launching a guide to box schemes, farmers� markets and farm shops. Bord Bia will do a presentation on local food, as will Tim Schlitzer of the FoodRoutes network in the US. FoodRoutes is a nonprofit organization that aids the development of local food distributional systems. It provides a range of resources, including communication tools, technical support, networking and information.

Both the local producer and the multiple retailers� perspectives will also feature. Mary Kelly of Moonshine organic dairy farm will speak about her business, which is apt as her family business is based just outside Mullingar. The Kelly�s turned a struggling conventional diary farm in Westmeath into a thriving organic food business, which now employs each of their six siblings. They produce organic diary products from their herd, which comprises of Ayrshire, Fresian and crosses of these. Their products include award winning soft cheeses, yoghurts and smoothies. Watch out for the distinctive churn style glass bottles their yoghurts and smoothies come in. I wrote about theme a while back. I'll post what I wrote here soon.

Sharon Buckley of Musgraves, Centra and SuperValu will outline local food from a multiple retailer�s perspective. There will be a choice of panel discussions featuring the above listed participants and other experts.

IOFGA�s AGM is also on soon. This is taking place on the November the 18th at Mellows College, Athenry, Co Galway. (for more, phone IOFGA on 043-42495 or email grace.maher@iofga.org). First things first, check out their new site!

Because they were established in 1982, all of 25 years ago, the IOFGA theme is �looking forward to the next 25�

The morning seminar is open to the public. IOFGA have gathered together a range of speakers from across the food system. These include Minister of State Trevor Sargent, under whose remit organic farming and food comes. The minister has been a solid supporter of organic farming, so it will be worth seeing what he reveals about future government plans for the sector, now that he actually has the power to affect change.

Dr. Charles Merfield of Teagasc will discuss soil fertility in the organic system. Charles is developing quite a name for himself as a conference speaker, as he combines those two key traits � genuine enthusiasm and comprehensive knowledge. If you get him going on the high tech machinery end of things there will be no stopping him.

Peter Melchett, director of the Soil Assocation will discuss GM and also
give the UK perspective on organic farming. With the UK being such an important market for Irish organic produce, and with the GM threat to organics ever present, this too should prove interesting.

Michael Hickey will also take to the podium. Michael, an organic beef farmer from Tipperary, was one of the first native born Irish members of IOFGA, joining the fledgling organisation in the mid 1980s. Michael is both impassioned in his support for organics and holistic in his thinking about how food and society should be. All things considered, another perspective well worth hearing.

Their last morning speaker will be the food writer John McKenna, who will speak about the role of organic food in the future in Ireland. John is well known for both the well written and informative Bridgestone guides, and his uncompromising comments on what he sees as the problems with food and hospitality in Ireland.

All in all, this is a well rounded set of speakers who will surely offer up that most apt of culinary clich�s; food for thought.

Spirituality, self-sufficiency, selling and the split: a brief potted history of organic farming in Ireland

Here's an article on organic organisations in Ireland, and how they developed from the 1980s to today. It is a linear and political take - I may contribute a cultural take sometime soon. This is essentially a v short history of IOFGA - the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association. As it happens, according to Anthony Kay (one of Ireland's genuinely pioneering organic farmers) a branch of the Soil Association was established in the 1950s in Ireland. He baked some bread for the event.

IOFGA was set up at a sequence of meetings in the early 1980s. Then, it was called IOGA (i.e. The Irish Organic Growers Association), which reflects just how important vegetable growers were to the movement back then. The grand total of 6 people attended the first meeting. Long haired, beardy men and shaven-headed women sat around on bales of hay in Rod Alston's place, Eden Plants in Rossinver County Leitrim. 40-odd attended another gathering in Blackcastle Co.Meath. By 1984, 2-300 hundred attended a three-day conference in Glencree (Wicklow). The name was soon changed to IOFGA.

Before the mid 1980s, the vast majority of organic producers in Ireland were homesteading migrants. By the mid 1980s, native born Irish farmers like Gerry Brown (a vet from Roscommon) and Michael Hickey (a beef farmer from Tipperary) were entering the fold. Bigger enterprises were being established, like Ballybrado farm. IOFGA had 350 members by 1986, but few of these were full time farmers.

A gradual but unmistakable divide was forming in the 1980s, between commercially-minded farmers who saw both the commercial and environmental merit in larger-scale organic sales, and those more interested in a smaller, but 'purer' environmentalism and alternative living.

In the Winter of 1991, a personality-driven split occurred. While there were genuine differences between the two camps, things didn't work out as simply as you might expect.

People who stayed with IOFGA were concerned that there was a conflict of interest in the Irish Organic Inspectorate(IOI). The IOI were the organic certifiers at the time. The only people who could possibly know enough to certify organic produce were those directly involved in the sector. So this controversial situation was unavoidable. The move away from alternative living and a feeling that the inspectorate was behaving in an elitist and unaccountable manner were also cited as being problematic by some.

Those that went on to form the Organic Trust (OT) were, in the main, committed to larger-scale organic production. They worried about inspection standards, a particularly nationalistic logo which was in use from 1987-1991, xenophobia against blow-ins, careerism in IOFGA and the emergence of possibly weak national standards with emerging Irish government interest in the sector: the much maligned Charlie Haughey actually gave substantial support to the sector in 1991, and actually farmed Kinsealy organically.

None of this went smoothly, as you can imagine; IOFGA represented many, often divergent interests: alternative living, environmentalism and rural native Irish farmers. Also, it was the body which received state support. Organic Trust represented the biggest producers in the land, but were in a legal vacuum for a few years. In what was a very symbolic act, the Ballybrado farm, perhaps the most visible landmark on the organic map, was split in two.

Slowly, the woulds began to heal. In 1996, equalisation between the IOFGA and OT standards occurred. The organic sector grew, with around 1000 producers and around 30,000 hectares of certified land by the end of the century. Today, IOFGA represent about 2/3 of producers, and the Organic Trust about 1/3. People tend to join either IOFGA or OT without any real reference to what are now largely the political differences of the past.

That said, IOFGA still carries out more political work - whiel Organic Trust members are also anti-GM, IOFGA members have been to the forefront of the anti-GM campaign. They also produce the magazine, Organic Matters. Organic Trust still claim to certify the bigger producers and an overall larger amount of produce, but maintian a fairly low profile otherwise.

IOFGA is now located at Newtownforbes, Co. Longford, (T) 043 42495 (F) 043 42496 (E)iofga@eircom.net.

Organic Trust is at Vernon House, 2 Vernon Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin 3, Tel/Fax: +353-1-853 0271, email organic@iol.ie