THE GOVERNMENT has been urged to provide education programmes that would show the public how to grow their own food, as part of a strategy to address future food security and climate change.
The Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association (Iofga) said Ireland’s dependence on using nitrogen in food production was no longer acceptable and a new strategy was needed to help the environment.
Kate Carmody of Iofga believes agriculture must cut its considerable greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 per cent. “These changes must be achieved without a loss in food productivity and we see the organic approach as an important part of the solution.”
It is looking for €5 million for a programme to educate people in organic farming methods and a further €5 million for research into energy efficiency in Irish agriculture in its pre-budget submission to the Department of Finance.
Iofga believes the funding would be a good investment as the Irish organic market should be worth €400 million annually by 2012. “We believe our proposals will help mitigate the effects of climate change and save the taxpayer money by reducing the dependence on fossil fuels in food production,” Ms Carmody said.
“They will also move us towards a greater level of national food security and generate employment in the agricultural, food processing and retailing sectors.”
