Chair of new organic food body is named

THE NEW body which replaces the National Steering Group for the Organic Sector is to be chaired by Noel Groome, it has been announced…

THE NEW body which replaces the National Steering Group for the Organic Sector is to be chaired by Noel Groome, it has been announced.

The announcement of Forás Orgánach was made yesterday by Trevor Sargent, Minister of State for Food and Horticulture, at an organic farm walk in Offaly. Mr Groome is managing director of Groome’s, a major employer in the fresh food industry, which has been promoting expansion of the organic sector, Mr Sargent said.

“There are real opportunities for Irish farmers, processors and wholesalers in the organic sector, not only in fruit and vegetables for home consumption but also in dairying, beef, lamb and other areas where even in the present economic climate there is a big potential export market,” he said.

In spite of the recession, he added, organic food sales had risen 11 per cent in the last year, whereas the non-organic sector grew by 2.7 per cent. The bulk of fruit and vegetables is imported.

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“I have established Forás Orgánach to build on the work of the national steering group and its predecessor, the Organic Development Committee, but with a different emphasis,” Mr Sargent added.

“Whereas the emphasis in the past was to bring various stakeholder groups together to agree a programme of action, it is my intention that the new body will be made up of individuals with expertise in particular areas who can bring their talents and specialist knowledge to our efforts to develop the organic sector further.”

Mr Sargent said he would be announcing the membership of Forás Orgánach in due course to further develop the organic retail market. It was was estimated to be worth €120 million in January 2009, compared to €104 million in 2008.

He said up to 75 per cent of some categories of organic food sold in Ireland, particularly fruit and vegetables, was imported, although much of this could be produced here.

The area of land in organic production in Ireland is still very small, although growing, at just over 1 per cent of agricultural land.