Grower disappointed with lack of tillage focus at Bord Bia Farmer Forum

The recently established Bord Bia Farmer Forum is not addressing the core issues impacting on Irish tillage, according to a Co. Westmeath cereal grower.

Donal O’Keeffe, who is a member of the Irish Grain Growers’ Group (IGGG) has been speaking to Agriland following the latest forum meeting.

The Farmer Forum was set up in the wake of protests earlier in the year relating to Bord Bia chairperson Larry Murrin and his company’s import of some Brazilian beef.

Almost 100 farmers from across the country gathered in recent weeks for the inaugural meeting of the forum, representing a broad mix of enterprises, ages and regions

Donal O’Keeffe is a grower who is participating in the forum. He said: “Imports of GM [genetically modified] maize and soya coming into Ireland from outside the European Union are at the very heart of this matter.

“Yet when attempts have been made to bring the matter up at the forum, discussion was quickly stifled,” he claimed.

“This approach is totally counterintuitive given the role that Bord Bia was established to carry out.”

According to O’Keeffe, the next step in this process will be hosting of roadshow events by Bord Bia in the autumn.

“It’s important that all the issues impacting on Irish tillage are discussed in a meaningful way at that stage.”

GM imports

O’Keeffe stressed that Ireland cannot prevent grain and plant protein imports from other regions of the European Union.

“But the issue of [genetically modified] GM imports arriving from countries outside of Europe is another matter altogether,” he said.

“And the figures involved are absolutely scary. Last year saw one million tonnes of GM maize brought into Ireland in tandem with an additional half a million tonnes of maize by-products.

“All of these crops are grown to standards well below those expected of European farmers,” O’Keeffe claimed.

According to the Westmeath cereal grower, Bord Bia is not addressing this issue.

He said: “I now get a distinct sense that the issue of GM imports coming into Ireland is a taboo subject for Bord Bia; one that no-one should be talking about.

“But in reality the very opposite is the case.”

Commenting specifically on the issue of GM soya coming into Ireland, O’Keeffe indicated that an alternative approach can be taken.

“There is now a significant cohort of traditional soya bean farmers in the US growing non-GM crop varieties only.

“Up to now they have been primarily supplying the organic livestock sectors in that country,” he added.

“However, I am sure this initiative could be expanded in Ireland’s interest if the farmers involved were financially incentivised to supply the Irish market in a meaningful way.

“Looking ahead, we will see the area of beans grown here in Ireland expand significantly.

“There is also the prospect of new varieties becoming available with inherently higher protein levels.”

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