Eamon Ryan
Question:9 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the way in which she proposes to promote the bio-fibre sector within farming here. [24555/04]
View answerWednesday, 13 October 2004
Questions (8)
Oral answers (9 contributions)
I thank the Deputies for their kind words and good wishes.
The main bio-fibre crops relevant to Irish farming are flax, hemp and miscanthus. Hemp has many processing possibilities and can be used for fibre, fuel and oil production. In a series of hemp production trials at its Oak Park research centre in the late 1990s, Teagasc obtained consistently high yields of biomass and fibre. However, no commercial development followed this work as no significant home market for the raw material could be found. Teagasc has developed an agronomy package for the crop and is ready to promote its production among farmers but can only do so if a profitable outlet can be established.
Flax was widely grown in Ireland, especially in the north of the country, early in the previous century, but the costs and water pollution risks associated with traditional water retting systems became unacceptable. It was therefore concluded that it would not be possible to establish flax production in Ireland based on dew retting alone. Technology may become available in future that would help overcome this problem and this is being kept under review by Teagasc scientists in Oak Park.
Miscanthus is a perennial plant that has given high dry matter yields in many countries. Its main potential uses in Ireland would be as fuel or in board mills, but to date neither of these uses can be exploited profitably. Moisture levels are high at harvest but, nevertheless, the crop could be grown by many farmers with Teagasc guidance if there were a market for the material.
The production and processing of flax and hemp are governed within the EU by the common organisation of the market for these crops. Notwithstanding that EU aid for the growing and processing of these crops into fibre under certain conditions is available, only small areas of both crops are grown in this country at present for the reasons I have already outlined.
In summary, a number of bio-fibre crops could be grown by Irish farmers. The limiting factors are the lack of home-based industries that would use these crops as raw materials and the cost of exporting such low-density produce to foreign markets.
Ar dtús ba mhaith liom gach rath a ghuí ar an Aire, an Teachta Coughlan, agus Airí Stáit, an Teachta Browne agus an Teachta Brendan Smith. Go n-éirí go geal leo sa Roinn.
I am glad to hear the Minister of State's reply, given that it takes into account a number of bio-fibre products. As a result of her visit to the national ploughing championships I am sure the Minister will be aware of the level of interest in diversification from the traditional farm enterprises which are running into serious market difficulties.
Apart from the trials and the statement about the lack of a home-based industry to take advantage of the raw materials, will the Department be proactive in encouraging farmers, through Teagasc and other advisory mechanisms, to familiarise themselves with the potential and to realise some of that potential? Does the Department liaise with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in respect of the lack of home-based industry to take advantage of these raw materials? I take it that the Minister of State was referring to crops rather than to bio-fibres as such because wool would also be part of the equation in the bio-fibre sector. Is there any proactive promotion of that sector, given the need for diversification in agriculture beyond the traditional food sector?
The Department continuously reviews this area. I note what the Deputy has said. Substantial EU support is available in area aid. For example, €383 per hectare is paid in area aid payments and €90 per tonne is available for processing, but this has still not encouraged farmers to become involved in this area.
The European Commission will report on this sector in early 2005. The Department will make a substantial input into this report because in our view, the present system is not working to Ireland's advantage. The Government will make its views known to the Commission and will seek for substantial changes to encourage Irish farmers and other sectors to consider the potential in this area.
I am sure the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, is keenly aware of the loss of employment in her area. I suggest that the bio-fibre sector be considered when replacement industry is being considered as it is traditional in that area. I suggest a trial and pilot scheme to integrate farming and industrial development as there is a tradition of textiles that should be fostered.
This team in the Department will consider all aspects of farming and the suggestions made by the Deputy will be taken on board.
Deputy Sargent reminded me of something when he talked about diversification, technology and the increased input into the bio-fibre sector. I noticed recently from GM studies that sheep dip can be used to grow a certain wool, which is easier to use with dye and so on. While Ireland is not a cotton growing country, the production of genetically modified cotton has increased dramatically in recent times, and farmers often vote with their pocket. I am sure Deputy Sargent would not advocate that we go down the GM route——
I did not say that.
——and I am not necessarily saying so either, but given that the issue is dealt with by the Departments of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Health and Children and Agriculture and Food, does the Minister agree we need to debate this issue in a logical and open manner?
As Deputy Sargent said, in regard to industry and commerce, and energy and natural resources, for which I had responsibility previously, the various Departments, including mine, need to become actively involved to deal with the issue of farmers wishing to diversify. I will open a conference tomorrow morning in Wexford on bio-fuels. Obviously, it is of major interest to farmers who are looking at alternative industry and we will continue to support that.