Mike Magan, Killashee,
Co Longford
DEAR SIR: A report drawn up by a group led by Michael Monaghan, Gordon Purvis and Liam Downey, entitled “Opportunities for sustainably competitive Irish agriculture”, was launched by Commissioner Phil Hogan on Friday last.
The report has five main chapters:
1. Getting better as well as bigger.2. Financial sustainability.3. Food chain integration.4. Environmental resilience.5. Reappraisal of agri food education and training.Some points are worth sharing with a wider audience than those present.
The gap between the accumulation of information and research, the “knowledge mountain” and its dissemination was highlighted. One example used was “why are we not getting better use from grass”.
We have the research, we have the clear message that for every gain/tonne of grass dry matter there is a €250 return to the farmer.
We have 2.5m hectares of grassland in Ireland. Of this, 1.5 tonnes extra/ha used indicates a return of €1bn to Irish farmers.
Commissioner Hogan made many compatible points in his speech. My purpose in writing to you, is to ask who does what? Who is responsible to shovel the top off the knowledge mountain into the valley of need? Who ensures that the research is relevant and needed? Who makes sure that the education and training is fit for purpose? Who ensures that the supply chain is fair and adequately rewards the primary producer? All big questions.
My challenge to all of us is how can this report do anything more than gather dust like so many previous reports?
A mechanism for co-ordinated thinking with someone responsible for delivery would be a great first step.
It’s people who make change happen, not organisations.
Mike Magan, Killashee,
Co Longford
DEAR SIR: A report drawn up by a group led by Michael Monaghan, Gordon Purvis and Liam Downey, entitled “Opportunities for sustainably competitive Irish agriculture”, was launched by Commissioner Phil Hogan on Friday last.
The report has five main chapters:
1. Getting better as well as bigger.2. Financial sustainability.3. Food chain integration.4. Environmental resilience.5. Reappraisal of agri food education and training.Some points are worth sharing with a wider audience than those present.
The gap between the accumulation of information and research, the “knowledge mountain” and its dissemination was highlighted. One example used was “why are we not getting better use from grass”.
We have the research, we have the clear message that for every gain/tonne of grass dry matter there is a €250 return to the farmer.
We have 2.5m hectares of grassland in Ireland. Of this, 1.5 tonnes extra/ha used indicates a return of €1bn to Irish farmers.
Commissioner Hogan made many compatible points in his speech. My purpose in writing to you, is to ask who does what? Who is responsible to shovel the top off the knowledge mountain into the valley of need? Who ensures that the research is relevant and needed? Who makes sure that the education and training is fit for purpose? Who ensures that the supply chain is fair and adequately rewards the primary producer? All big questions.
My challenge to all of us is how can this report do anything more than gather dust like so many previous reports?
A mechanism for co-ordinated thinking with someone responsible for delivery would be a great first step.
It’s people who make change happen, not organisations.
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