Vol. 490 No. 1
6 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the extent of training given to Teagasc advisers in the area of organic farming; and the finance provided for the past five years to organisations providing inspection services to ensure organic standards are maintained, excluding the measures and finance under REP schemes. [9417/98]
Responsibility for the provision of research, training and advisory services for the agri-food industry has been assigned to Teagasc by statute. Questions about the extent of training given to Teagasc advisers are, therefore, a matter for Teagasc. During the five year period 1993-7 finance of almost £66,000 has been provided to the three private inspection bodies approved by my Department for carrying out inspections on organic production of agricultural crop products. In addition, during the same period about £41,000 was paid to the inspection bodies for approved marketing and promotional projects and for updating facilities under the scheme of grant aid for the development of the organic farming sector under the Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry, 1994-1999. My Department also provided a grant-in-aid allocation of over £37,000 to one of the approved inspection bodies during the start-up and implementation phase of the organic regime under EU Regulation 2092/91 on organic production of agricultural crop products.
I understand that matters relating to Teagasc are its business. Will the Government follow the example of other EU member states by setting targets for organic farming? Sweden aims to have 10 per cent of its farming organic by 2000, while Austria already has 10 per cent and in some regions, Salzburg for example, it is as high as 50 per cent. Has the Government a target to back up Teagasc, which I understand is embarking on training?
With regard to the finance mentioned, was the expenditure from EU or Exchequer funds? Will the Minister of State give an indication of the Government's commitment over and above EU funding to organic farming which may allow us to match the seriousness with which other EU countries treat organic farming?
There are farmers who do not have farms which qualify under the REP scheme but who are interested in converting to organic farming. Are there any means other than the REP scheme by which they can do so?
Teagasc is running an organic farm at Johnstown Castle and I had discussions with officials there this week. They have put proposals to me which are being considered. There is not a target percentage. The organic market in Ireland is about 2 per cent and we have not yet fulfilled that market, although it is growing. With the proposed changes to agriculture over the next few years there will be a greater amount of more environmentally friendly farming, although not strictly organic. There is a potential for export above the 2 per cent.
The funds are 75 per cent EU funds and 25 per cent Exchequer funds. It is the Department's intention to encourage more farmers to get involved in organic farming. However, it is an essential part of organic farming that the REP scheme payment is made to people who can then qualify. It is a help in production. In the last couple of days the price for organically produced cattle, for which there is no regulation in the EU at present although the matter is under discussion, is £1.30 per pound. It would seem an attractive area from that perspective.
I was interested to hear the Minister of State mention the organic livestock sector. As he pointed out, the inspection of organic livestock farms does not qualify for funding. Is that a matter for interpretation at governmental level? I have heard it said that other countries manage to include livestock farming in the funding for inspections. Is anything being done nationally to ensure that livestock farms will be funded? At present the organic organisations make up for the shortfall by sharing the cost between the other sectors to level out the charges. Will that matter be resolved soon?
At present individual livestock farmers pay for the inspections. There is no regulation in the EU at present with regard to livestock and hopefully that will be remedied shortly when agreement is reached. The Deputy will be aware that there is a difficulty in agreeing what is and what is not organic. There are people selling produce which is not organic as organic. I am aware of a market in my area where people who have a different lifestyle from normal are prepared to offer non-organic produce as organic. People believe them and it is the perception that is important. There is a difficulty in agreeing a standard for organic livestock. At present, individual farmers pay for the inspections themselves but they are in receipt of substantial REP scheme payments.
Only some of them.
Most of them.
