Horizons

Organic growth: National Organic Week begins on Monday with a campaign to encourage more farmers to switch to organic farming.

The Irish Organic Farmers' and Growers' Association's (IOGFA) agm next Saturday offers the public an opportunity to meet organic farmers and food producers. The event in the Tullamore Court Hotel, O'Moore Street, Tullamore, Co Offaly, will include organic-food tasting and a five-course organic lunch (prior booking essential on 043 42495). Meanwhile, the Organic College in Dromcollogher, Co Limerick, is hosting a public seminar on Friday at 8pm. Organic farmer and farming consultant Mary Lynch will speak about converting from conventional to organic production and how to maintain an income to stay in farming as an organic producer. Call 063-83604 or email oifig@organiccollege.com for more details.

Finally, Rockfield Ecological Estate, Rathaspic, Rathowen, Co Westmeath, will host a series of school visits and public talks on organic and ecological living throughout the week. Contact Imelda Daly at 043-76024 or e-mail imeldadaly@eircom.net for details.

GM criticism: The European Commission approved a genetically-modified oilseed rapeseed (GT73) for importation into all EU countries in September. Since then, opposition has grown to the use of GT73 in Ireland. The Irish Seedsavers Association, based in Co Clare, is among those calling on the Government to ban the importation of this GM seed into Ireland. Individual member states can ban specific GM products for safety reasons. The Irish Seedsavers Association has organised an advance screening of the film, The Future of Food, which tells the story of how GM damaged agriculture and farming livelihoods in the US, Canada and Mexico. The screening takes place in Glór, Ennis, Co Clare, on Wednesday at 7.30pm. Admission €5. Call 061-927454 for more details.

Model farm: A sustainable farming project in the Burren, Co Clare, is set to shape future agri-environmental policies. The BurrenLife project is a partnership-based Farming for Conservation initiative funded by the EU. The aim is to develop a new model of agriculture which will conserve designated habitats such as limestone pavements, orchid-rich grasslands and turloughs. For more information, e-mail info@burrenlife.com or call 065-7072586.

Changing climate: What's Climate Change and What's Not?, a talk by meteorologist Dr Brendan McWilliams, takes place on Tuesday at 8pm at the Airfield Trust, Upper Kilmacud Road, Dundrum, Dublin. Dr McWilliams will speak about global warming, ozone depletion, tsunamis and other natural phenomena. Next Saturday at 2.15pm in the same venue, Dr Declan Doogue of the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club will explore the diversity of wildlife in mid-winter. Call 01-2984301 or e-mail marianairfield.ie to book.