Press release
Minister Hackett welcomes inaugural meeting of Organic Strategy Forum
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Pippa Hackett has welcomed the inaugural meeting of a new Organic Strategy Forum. The Forum, which held its first meeting on Wednesday 13 April, comprises a range of experts from the farming and food processing sectors, organic certification bodies and relevant State Agencies.
The first meeting, chaired by Padraig Brennan, focused on an overview of the current state of the Organic sector with presentations form the State Agency members (Teagasc, Bord Bia and BIM) as well as from the Minister’s department. Teagasc updated the meeting on their latest research and advisory supports for organic farming and BIM outlined the current situation regarding organic aquaculture. Bord Bia updated on latest market developments nationally and globally while the Department of Agriculture’s presentation provided up to date information on participation rates by sector and the current state of play regarding organic production. The presentations are available on the department’s website at: Inaugural Meeting of Organic Strategy Forum
Minister Hackett noted:
“The immediate focus of the Organic Strategy Forum will be on the continued implementation of the National Organic Strategy 2025 the actions and supports necessary to remove the barriers to the growth of the sector. It was encouraging to hear that there was strong consensus that there is huge untapped opportunity for the sector both in Ireland and internationally but that availing of these will require the right level of supports and innovation. I want the Forum members to play an active role in developing the programme of work needed to boost production of organic food in Ireland and they can be assured in turn of the full support of my department in this.”
The group will meet on a quarterly basis with further meetings planned for June, September and December 2022. Each meeting will focus on a particular area of the sector that needs further development with specific goals being established to ensure Programme for Government targets are achieved.
Chairman Padraig Brennan noted:
“I am delighted to chair this high-level group and our meeting today involved input from all participants that revealed the underlying commitment and professionalism of the sector at large and also displayed a tenacity to establish the Organic sector as a mainstream pillar of the Irish agri-food landscape. We will be setting ourselves an ambitious work programme and I look forward to working with all participants on implementing this.”