Vielen Dank, Botschafter Collins. Hallo zusammen. Mein Deutsch ist nicht so gut, also haben Sie bitte etwas Geduld mit mir und Google Translate!
Ich freue mich, heute Nachmittag mit Bord Bia hier in Düsseldorf zu sein, um unsere Kampagne für Bio Rind- und Lammfleisch zu starten.
Bio Landbau ist gut für die Landwirte, das Land, den Boden, die Artenvielfalt, das Wasser, das Tierwohl und die Verbraucher.
Ich wünsche Bord Bia alles Gute für die Kampagne!
I am delighted to see you all here today on this historic occasion as we launch Ireland’s first ever organic pasture-fed beef and lamb campaign.
I am grateful to the European Research Executive Agency for the co funding that has allowed this campaign to take place.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Bord Bia here in Germany - and across Europe - as I know it is a huge undertaking to apply for EU funding, and it is a very competitive process.
In particular I would like to acknowledge the ongoing work of Noreen, Gabrielle, and Emmet Doyle and his team in promoting the Irish organic sector.
Even to be able to use the term “organic team” is an indication of the scale of change within Bord Bia relating to organics, and it’s reflective really of what we have seen at a national level across the sector.
I also want to acknowledge the huge effort my Department’s organic division have put in over the past four years, particularly Jack Nolan.
As Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity, and as an organic farmer myself, I am very aware of the challenges facing our industry, from action on climate change, biodiversity loss and water quality, to dealing with high input prices, challenging income levels and generational renewal.
In the face of these challenges, organic farming stands as a real beacon of excellence, offering an approach to food production that prioritises environmental stewardship, animal welfare, human health and, most importantly, farmers themselves.
We are finding - in Ireland, and across Europe - that younger farmers – and interestingly greater numbers of female farmers - are choosing to make the switch to organics.
This can only be positive for agriculture as a whole, as younger people and women are underrepresented in Irish farming.
Earlier this month I launched a major new Strategy for Ireland’s Organic Food and Drink sector. This builds on our national Agri-Food strategy “Food Vision 2030”, which aims to make Ireland a world leader in sustainable food systems, delivering benefits for the sector, for society and the environment.
The strategy has been developed in collaboration with cross sectoral stakeholders, and outlines a clear pathway to more than treble the value of the organic sector by 2030, through the following six key priorities:
o Supporting Organic Farming Participation
o Coordinating the Value Chain
o Growing the Domestic Market
o Driving Export Growth
o Expanding Public Procurement
o Boosting Skills and Support
The strategy is accompanied by an implementation plan with 51 time-bound actions. This plan will inform the work programme of our multi-stakeholder Organic Strategy Forum in the period ahead, and ensure continued strong momentum across the sector.
Organic Farming, maybe for the first time ever, is now firmly embedded in Irish government policy, ranging from the CAP Strategic Plan, Climate Action Plan, Green Public Procurement Strategy and the increased investment by Bord Bia and Teagasc in supporting the sector.
I am confident that the sector will continue to grow and flourish over the medium and longer-term, helped by the unique opportunities offered by the EU Green Deal and the Common Agricultural Policy framework.
The organic sector plays an increasingly vital role in Europe's agricultural landscape, supporting local economies, preserving biodiversity, and promoting healthy living.
As we look to the future, organic farming will continue to play a central role in our efforts to build a more resilient and sustainable food system.
That is why my Department, in partnership with Bord Bia and other state agencies and the organic certification bodies, is committed to supporting the growth of the organic sector through targeted investments, promotion, policy initiatives, and partnerships with industry stakeholders.
I am confident that through our collective efforts, we can harness the power of organic farming and encourage the next generation of farmers and consumers across the EU to seek out organic.
And by giving them a strong appreciation of not only the organic produce available, but of the producers that work tirelessly to offer this sustainable and environmentally friendly option, the future for organics is bright.
Thank you all very much.
