Organic farming - still a small base

By Angela Nugent

Organic farming interests face numerous challenges. There is a demand for organic produce but, as yet, the volume, range and continuity of supplies are inadequate.

All of the aspirational demand may not carry through to actual purchasing of product as volume increases. Producers, supplying the larger urban markets, can realise a premium for their organic produce. This is more difficult in more remote areas.

Organic farming and produce are making inroads. However, the base is still small - about 900 registered organic farmers in total.

The fledgling sector needs imaginative government support, careful nurturing to increase volume and range of quality produce and the development of an appropriate infrastructure. It is a Catch 22 scenario - to balance the need for volume and infrastructure.

A real brake on progress is the scarcity of organic grain. This reflects in a dearth of organic pig and poultry meat and in the high premia available for the limited supplies.

Commercial grain growers, often in continuous cropping, generally baulk at the challenges of conversion and rotation. Some reckon that Ireland will never achieve self sufficiency in organic grain.

Forward planning

At the recent IOFGA (Irish Organic Farmers and Growers) conference a network of producer groups affiliated to a national marketing group gained favour. Local producer groups are already operating in areas such as Clare, Leitrim and Meath.

The kernel of an organic dairying group emerged during workshops. Partnerships between producers, processors and retailers are also needed to agree pricing and premia and ensure customer loyalty.

Lack of empathy

Appreciation of the organic sector and its potential is seen as gravely lacking within the Department of Agriculture.

This is not just a sectoral gripe. Kevin O'Brien of Superquinn admitted to `being embarrassed' at the lack of understanding as to what is needed to optimise the potential in organics.

Organic farming is supported by Supplementary Measure 6 of REPS. The payments available are higher than those envisaged within a new scheme planned for Britain and Northern Ireland.

While the REPS support is very welcome there is inflexibility and anomalies that need to be addressed. IOFGA has lodged a submission with the Department of Agriculture in relation to the new Rural Environment Protection Scheme.

Profile of the sector

Over recent years there has been over a five fold increase in the area of land farmed organically in Ireland. By 1998 about 28,704 hectares were registered with organic farming bodies.

Almost 900 registered organic farmers are involved. Noreen Gibney, operations manager with IOFGA (Irish Organic Farmers and Growers), anticipates further rapid growth in the sector.

However, the expansion of organic farming in Ireland and Britain has not kept pace with other EU countries.

Here 0.51 per cent of farms are organic, the percentage in Britain is 0.42. These figures contrast with 2.97 per cent in Sweden and 2.19 per cent in Denmark.

Austria, Denmark and Sweden are set to have 10 per cent of their total farmland under organic production by year 2,000. These countries have policies in place to develop the sector.

Ireland lacks a coherent policy in relation to organic farming. Noreen Gibney is looking to the Department of Agriculture to develop it.

More support is needed

Broad ranging state supports are needed to foster the fledgling organic sector. Production should be aligned to current and forecast market demands. New outlets should be fostered.

Organic farming interests need support to develop an appropriate infrastructure. The scheme aiding the promotion and marketing of organic produce must continue and be geared to assist processing and distribution.

REPS (Rural Environment Protection Scheme) and its Supplementary Measure 6 is benefiting organic farming. However, some changes are desirable.

Noreen Gibney points out that the current scheme has not resulted in an expansion of organic horticulture. Yet organic fruit and vegetables are in keen demand and imports are increasing.

The supply of organic grain is also an issue. Incentives for cereal production eg towards the expansion and construction of storage facilities are sought.

Organic interests are looking to farmers in the east and south east to convert to organic systems to meet the demand for organic arable and vegetable products.

Acquiring knowledge and skills

Education and training in organic farming systems are needed. So too is professional advice and the back up of research.

IOFGA employs an adviser but full coverage of the country is needed.

Those considering organic farming need help to prepare conversion and management plans. Demonstration farms, where the economics of organic production are monitored and quantified, would serve the sector well.

The organic farming projects, including milk production, underway at Johnstown Castle are welcomed. However, other areas such as horticulture, cereals and livestock breeding need to be researched.

An organic food enthusiast

Food writer, Maureen Tatlow, is an organic produce enthusiast. An emotive expose of conventional produce is a choice.

However, inaccurate insinuations eg that conventional, against organic, meat is more likely to carry the dreaded E coli 0157 are unacceptable. The reality is that factory and kitchen hygiene, rather than production methods, is generally involved.

Remember the unfortunate outbreak in Scotland where a butcher's shop was involved?

The mind set of conventional farmers was questioned - "To produce food for consumers to gobble up". Quality Assurance Schemes are seen as serving industry interests and of little value in terms of consumer protection.

Maureen Tatlow contends that organic produce provides consumers with the only credible assurance scheme available.

Quality is often viewed from a microbiological perspective with eating quality attracting little interest.