“Right across the agricultural sector, there is a move and pressure to look at everything that is used in food production,” said Irish MEP Mairead McGuinness, who was speaking at the Tullamore show. “Anti-microbial resistance is a massive issue and it has been on the agenda at least, in my view, for 10 years. It’s beginning to hit the headlines in the public domain now but it’s about human health.”

McGuinness says there is a need for farmers also to look at what products they are using and possibly measure it in order to make sure the appropriate antibiotics are being used in the right way. But it’s not just animal medicines - McGuinness suggests extending this out to other products such as insecticides.

I am very open to the idea that glyphosate might go, but it may stay

“I think there’s a win-win in this for Irish agriculture. I’ve talked to farmers at the Tullamore show and they don’t want to be using these products if there are alternatives.

“I am very open to the idea that glyphosate might go, but it may stay,” McGuinness said, adding that it will very much depend on scientific proof that the chemical is not a carcinogen. “Let’s wait and see what this review comes up with. If it says that there is no problem with glyphosate then we can continue to use it in a sustainable way. But if there is any question over its human health implications then we must be open to replacing it with alternatives.

“I look around at the farmers here at the Tullamore show when I make these statements. I don’t want any farmer to be using products that will damage their health, that should be our priority when we make legislation.”

Listen to the full interview with Mairead McGuinness in our podcast below:

Read more

Full coverage: Tullamore Show