Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
1183. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the key elements and general parameters of the recently launched Organic Farming Action Plan 2013-2015 by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37585/13]
View answerThe Organic Farming Action Plan 2013 – 2015 has four main objectives; increase the production base in Ireland, with a view to replacing where possible imports with Irish organic produce, promote awareness of the potential export market, seek to develop sustainable export markets for Irish organic produce as supplies become available and to identify issues which are impeding the growth of the Organic Sector with an emphasis on developing solutions.
This Action Plan focuses on five specific sectors namely organic beef and sheep, organic milk, organic fruit and vegetables, organic aquaculture and organic cereals. Within the Action Plan, five broad sectoral objectives are identified as follows: market development, training and education, the Organic Farming Scheme, increase consumer awareness and green public procurement.
The Organic Farming Action Plan 2013-2015 proposes key actions to address sector specific issues and thereby aims to assist the Organic Sector to realise its potential for growth as identified within the Food Harvest 2020 Report.
Full details of the Organic Farming Action Plan 2013-2015 is available on my Department’s website: http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/farmingsectors/organicfarming/OrganicFarmingActionPlan230813.pdf.
