Patrick Kent has retracted his controversial comments on the Irish dairy sector.

Speaking at a conference in Skibbereen on Saturday, the ICSA president made comments that questioned the integrity of the Irish dairy sector.

They were part of a wide-ranging address from the floor that mainly focused on Kent’s opposition to the use of GM feed by Irish farmers. He accused the Irish feed industry of actively blocking the importation of non-GM soya.

The conference, “Our Farms, Our Food, Our Future” featured speakers including Fiona Krispie of Teagasc and French anti-Round-up campaigner Dr Gilles-Eric Seralini (see report on page 18)

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Kent made the following clarifying comments.

“Sometimes in heated debate, words come out wrong. Show me the leader who hasn’t made a mistake. I regret any sense that I was castigating quality, grass-fed Irish milk. For the record, I drink conventional milk and nobody has been a more passionate advocate of getting milk into the diet of our children instead of sugary drinks.”

Sustainability

Kent has strong views around the sustainability of dairy expansion, which he expanded upon when speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal at the ICSA 25th anniversary dinner last Friday evening.

See page 11