New research carried out on behalf of Agri Aware has found that one in 10 Irish people have never visited a farm.
It also found that one in three Irish people have not visited a farm in the past five years.
For more than half (55%) the reason was simply that they never had the opportunity to go to a farm.
The research was released by Agri Aware in advance of its inaugural National Open Farm Day which will take place on bank holiday Monday, 7 May 2018.
This will be the first time in Ireland that farms from across the country will simultaneously open their gates to the public on one day to help educate consumers about what happens on a working farm and to encourage families to learn more about where our food comes from.
The research
The research was carried out by RED C among more than 1,000 respondents nationwide. Additional findings of the research include:
The majority of respondents (87%) claim that a visit to a farm would be beneficial to children, particularly those who have children. 60% of those with children have a strong interest in visiting a working farm and over half the population claim they would be interested in such a visit.Generally there is a greater lack of knowledge among females, 18-24 year olds and those with children, however these groups also show highest levels of interest in visiting a farm.The majority of respondents believe they have good understanding of the farm to fork journey (60%) but are less likely to agree that children also understand it (35%).The key attractions would be to see the farm animals (85%); see how vegetables grow (71%); seeing the farmer at work (62%) and seeing machinery (46%).Dairy and beef farming have the highest level of understanding of any farm types according to the research, while sheep and tillage return lower understanding levels.Commenting on the research, Agri Aware executive director Deirdre O’Shea said: “As we become an increasingly urbanised nation, many people are losing the connection between the activity carried out year-round by farmers all over our country and the food that they consume every day.
“Our research clearly shows that Irish people would welcome the opportunity to visit a working farm to learn more about how our food is produced.
“We are delighted to be able to facilitate this through our first National Open Farm Day.”
National Open Farm Day
The host farmers for National Open Farm Day include:
John and Ann Coughlan, Buttevant, Co. Cork.Padraic and Breege Joyce, Castlebar, Co Mayo.Tom and Geraldine Short, Newtownmountkennedy, Co WicklowPadraic and Bríd McMahon, Fieldstown West, North County Dublin.Each farm will host several activity zones on the day including a ‘meet the farmer’ zone, a cookery zone and a kids zone.
On the day, each of the farms will open their gates to the public from 11am – 4pm and each location will offer its own unique programme of activities.
For full details of the activity planned on each farm, along with directions, visit www.agriaware.ie.
Read more
My Farming Week: Padraic and Brid McMahon, Kilsallagh, Co Dublin
Farmers open their gates to the public for National Open Farm Day
New research carried out on behalf of Agri Aware has found that one in 10 Irish people have never visited a farm.
It also found that one in three Irish people have not visited a farm in the past five years.
For more than half (55%) the reason was simply that they never had the opportunity to go to a farm.
The research was released by Agri Aware in advance of its inaugural National Open Farm Day which will take place on bank holiday Monday, 7 May 2018.
This will be the first time in Ireland that farms from across the country will simultaneously open their gates to the public on one day to help educate consumers about what happens on a working farm and to encourage families to learn more about where our food comes from.
The research
The research was carried out by RED C among more than 1,000 respondents nationwide. Additional findings of the research include:
The majority of respondents (87%) claim that a visit to a farm would be beneficial to children, particularly those who have children. 60% of those with children have a strong interest in visiting a working farm and over half the population claim they would be interested in such a visit.Generally there is a greater lack of knowledge among females, 18-24 year olds and those with children, however these groups also show highest levels of interest in visiting a farm.The majority of respondents believe they have good understanding of the farm to fork journey (60%) but are less likely to agree that children also understand it (35%).The key attractions would be to see the farm animals (85%); see how vegetables grow (71%); seeing the farmer at work (62%) and seeing machinery (46%).Dairy and beef farming have the highest level of understanding of any farm types according to the research, while sheep and tillage return lower understanding levels.Commenting on the research, Agri Aware executive director Deirdre O’Shea said: “As we become an increasingly urbanised nation, many people are losing the connection between the activity carried out year-round by farmers all over our country and the food that they consume every day.
“Our research clearly shows that Irish people would welcome the opportunity to visit a working farm to learn more about how our food is produced.
“We are delighted to be able to facilitate this through our first National Open Farm Day.”
National Open Farm Day
The host farmers for National Open Farm Day include:
John and Ann Coughlan, Buttevant, Co. Cork.Padraic and Breege Joyce, Castlebar, Co Mayo.Tom and Geraldine Short, Newtownmountkennedy, Co WicklowPadraic and Bríd McMahon, Fieldstown West, North County Dublin.Each farm will host several activity zones on the day including a ‘meet the farmer’ zone, a cookery zone and a kids zone.
On the day, each of the farms will open their gates to the public from 11am – 4pm and each location will offer its own unique programme of activities.
For full details of the activity planned on each farm, along with directions, visit www.agriaware.ie.
Read more
My Farming Week: Padraic and Brid McMahon, Kilsallagh, Co Dublin
Farmers open their gates to the public for National Open Farm Day
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