On Monday August 8th RTE’s Nationwide visited Ballintubbert House and Gardens in Co. Laois. Gillian Westbrook, CEO of the Irish Organic Association was there to meet the staff and owners and congratulate them on their achievement of being the first ornamental garden in Ireland to receive organic status. To watch the episode CLICK HERE. 

The Irish Organic Association are hosting our 2022 Annual General Meeting in the same location on September 6th so please book in now! We are celebrating our 40th birthday this year!

Complementary policy measures vital to the success of a growing organic farming sector

20/07/22 – Today the government announced its revised payment rates for the new Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) funded under the forthcoming CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027. The new payment rates foresee a significant increase in support from 2023 for farmers interested in converting to organic production as well as the thousands of organic farmers who already hold full organic symbol status. The OFS is expected to open for new applicants in October 2022.

Gillian Westbrook, Irish Organic Association CEO, said “We welcome the Irish Government’s continued commitment to invest in the development of organic production in Ireland. An attractive and reliable Organic Farming Scheme can play a pivotal role in supporting farmers who are the foundation of Ireland’s dynamic and innovative organic sector. The multiple benefits of organic farming include supplying high-quality food and other products, and delivering for the environment and animal welfare which can contribute to sustainable development across the country”.

As an active member of the DAFM CAP Consultative Committee and National Organic Strategy Group, the Irish Organic Association recognises that the OFS is a key feature of the Government’s wider commitment to meeting the goals of Ireland’s National Organic Strategy 2019-2025 and the EU Organic Action Plan. Full implementation of all instruments is critical to ensure that the Irish organic sector is empowered to tackle the many sustainability challenges facing the agri-food industry.

Westbrook added, “Alongside the OFS, it is essential that the further development of Ireland’s organic policy leaves no stone unturned. The Irish Organic Association will continue to work with government and other interested stakeholders to stimulate all key policy levers, from developing new markets and supply chains in Ireland and with our partners across Europe, and a strong agricultural knowledge and innovation system for organics, to ensuring meaningful prioritisation under relevant CAP supports and other policies.”

Notes
For further comment please contact Gillian Westbrook, CEO of the Irish Organic Association at 087 7819967, or by email at gillian.westbrook@irishoa.ie
The Organic Farming Scheme is operated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM), and provides financial support to farmers to encourage the development of the organic supply base. Applicants must be registered with an approved organic certification body such as the Irish Organic Association before applying. Further information can be found here. The new OFS is expected to be open for new applicants in October 2022. New payment rates are subject to the final approval of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan.
Interested in conversion? New Farmers can contact the Irish Organic Association on 090 643 3680 or email info@irishoa.ie to talk through the process with a member of our friendly team. Further details are available through our website.
According to the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), European demand for organic food more than doubled between 2011 and 2020. Five of Ireland’s key export destinations for organics namely; France, Germany Italy, the Netherlands and the UK represented over two-thirds of the European organic food retail sales in 2020. Reporting from Bord Bia in 2021 estimated that the value of the Irish organic market up to 2025 will grow by about 9% annually.

A Citizens’ Assembly is currently examining how Ireland can tackle the issue of Biodiversity Loss across different sectors including agriculture. The Irish Organic Association has already made a submission to the Assembly highlighting the merits of organic farming for biodiversity protection and enhancement (see below). Members are encouraged to make their own individual submissions as well. The Assembly will start considering submissions in September, which can be submitted in the following ways:

• Uploaded via the Citizen’s Assembly online submissions form
• Emailed to submissions@citizensassembly.ie or
• Posted to Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss, 16 Parnell Square, Dublin 1

The Assembly is comprised of 100 members including an independent Chairperson, academic and broadcaster, Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin and 99 members of the public who have been randomly selected. They held their first meetings in May and June 2022, with subsequent deliberations taking place from September over several months. Proceedings are streamed online and available to view via the Citizens’ Assembly Youtube Channel. For further information visit: citizensassembly.ie

Irish Organic Association Submission to Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity

 

On Saturday July 16th, Mary Lynch will run an Agri- Environment Training Scheme (AETS) course for farmers. It will be held in Ballykisteen Hotel, Limerick Junction in Co. Tipperary.

Date:  Saturday 16^th July 10 -5 pm

Morning Session inside

Afternoon Session – on farm

Course objectives- Update on CAP 2023 and New Schemes including Organic Farming Scheme, ACRES, BISS, Ecoscheme, CRISS etc.

Farmers get paid €156 for their attendance

To Book Contact Mary directly on tel: 087 2434365

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Organic Farm Walk

On Thursday 16^th June at 6.30pm

On the farm of

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Looking at stockless organic tillage production and using fertility building crops

Rājpura In attendance will be

John Geraghty Conservation Tillage and soil expert

Johnny Flahavan from Flahavans Oats

Representative from Fruithill Farm, Organic seed suppliers

For info and to book a  place contact Mary Lynch 087 2434365