HortiTrends.com - Organics

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21 March 2014

Minister Coveney Congratulates George Lee on New Appointment

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine Simon Coveney recently congratulated George Lee on his appointment as Agriculture and Environment Correspondent with RTE. "This is very positive news and recognises the increasing importance of the Agri/food sector in Ireland".

13 March 2014

Small Businesses Hear About Innovating To Meet Changing Consumer Needs

Bord Bia's fourth annual Small Business Open Day was held on the 29th January providing an opportunity for small food producers to access information on the range of programmes and facilities available to support further growth and business development.

05 March 2014

Minister Hayes Visits Fruit Logistica in Berlin

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Tom Hayes, TD, commended Bord Bia and their partner the Irish Potato Federation, on the Ireland stand at Fruit Logistica, the international fresh fruit and vegetable trade fair in Berlin. Minister Hayes said that he "congratulated Bord Bia and the participating companies of the Irish Potato federation on their foresight and enterprise in availing of this opportunity to seek out new markets for that most traditional of Irish crops, the potato".

04 February 2014

Government Decision on Rural Development Funding Recognises Importance and Potential of Farming and Food Sector

IFA President Eddie Downey said the Government announcement this evening on their commitment to national co-financing for the next CAP Rural Development Programme is welcome and will deliver strong support for vital farm schemes for the next seven years, which underpin farm incomes particularly in Disadvantaged Areas and in the low-income sectors of farming.

03 February 2014

Tomato Skin – A Natural Lining for Metal Cans

The packaging industry is under pressure to improve its environmental performance and become more competitive. In addition, food packaging safety has come under more scrutiny. An innovative EU-funded project has addressed all three of these objectives at once, with a straightforward yet potentially revolutionary solution using tomato skins.

30 January 2014

Bord Bia Launches Retail Guide for Small Food Businesses

Bord Bia has launched a new 'Guide to Retail for Small Food Producers', a practical tool for small food businesses to assist them in winning and growing business in the Irish retail sector. The guide was shared with over 170 small food businesses gathered in Dublin recently for Bord Bia's fourth annual Small Business Open Day, where companies received information on a range of programmes and facilities available to them.

02 January 2014

Nanotechnology in the Agri-Food Industry: Applications, Opportunities & Challenges

Date: 9th January 2014
Location: Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin
Presented by safefood, the Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, and Teagasc Food Research Centre
Full Programme can be viewed by clicking this link: NanotechnologyWorkshop

20 December 2013

O'Neill Meets with NI Farmers For Action to Discuss Farm Gate Prices

Following the meeting at Parliament Buildings Stormont the Minister said she wanted to see a profitable and sustainable farming industry but that she also had to operate within the guidelines set by the European Community.

16 December 2013

Minister Hayes Promotes the Consumption of Irish Vegetables

Tom Hayes, TD, Minister of State with responsibility for horticulture at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine urged consumers to purchase Irish produced vegetables while inspecting some of the Irish brussels sprout crop with Enda Weldon, grower, at the Weldon’s family farm in North Co. Dublin.

12 December 2013

Horticulture in the Dail - Key Sectors of Agriculture or Food Industries that Are Contributing the Most to Export Growth

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent)
436. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the key sectors of agriculture or food industries that are contributing the most to export growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

02 December 2013

Tomato Packaging Made from Tomatoes?

The tomato is much loved by Europeans - it forms the basis of many recipes, whether fresh or tinned. But what happens to tomato by-product waste? European researchers have come up with a solution to put this waste to good use.

07 March 2014

Hayes Highlights Opportunities for Organic Sector at Biofach, Organic Trade Fair

Speaking at the opening of Ireland's organic food stand at Biofach, the World Organic Trade Fair in Nuremburg, Germany, Tom Hayes TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine highlighted the opportunities that exist for Irish Organic produce both at home and abroad.

24 February 2014

Healthy Outlook for Global Organic Sales

Presented at Europe's largest organic trade fair, Biofach in Nuremberg Germany, global figures for organic market performance demonstrated growth in 2012 and 2013 across Europe and North America. USA, Germany, France and Canada represent the top 4 markets for organic by retail sales value.

03 February 2014

IOFGA Conference 11th Feb 2014, County Arms Hotel, Birr, Co. Offaly

As 2014 is the year of the 'Family Farm', it seems only appropriate to discuss the potential and opportunities for the organic family farm business and the structure of the new Rural Development Programme (RDP) supports.

2.45pm to 3pm Registration and Refreshments

31 January 2014

Promoting an EU Industrial Policy for Food and Drink

FoodDrinkEurope, the trade body representing Europe's food and drink industry, today launched its 2013-2014 Competitiveness Report, [837kB] urging EU institutions to deliver an industrial policy tailored to increase the competitiveness of the food and drink sector. Ahead of an anticipated Communication by the European Commission on Competitiveness, FoodDrinkEurope's report, entitled 'Promoting an EU Industrial Policy for Food and Drink' aims to:

09 January 2014

Irish food and Drink Exports Approach €10 Billion for the First Time

The value of Irish food and drink exports has approached €10billion for the first time in 2013, according to new figures released by Bord Bia today. This represents an increase of 9% on the previous year and 40% in the last four years with revenues almost €3 billion higher than in 2009.

26 December 2013

New Food Labelling Requirements from December 2014

From December 2014, foodservice operators will need to adhere to new EU legislation that requires them to provide accurate information on the allergen status of the dishes that they serve.

18 December 2013

An Tairseach - Ecology Centre Wicklow

The Dominican Sisters established the Dominican Farm and Ecology Centre in 1998 on their 70-acres of land in Wicklow. It is an organic/biodynamic farm and Centre for Ecology and Spirituality

13 December 2013

Organic College Christmas Market 15th December

Christmas is almost upon us and what better way to celebrate than to support local, home-grown enterprise. The students at An t’Ionad Glas, The Organic College in Dromcollogher, Co. Limerick are putting together a vibrant Christmas Market to showcase their talents and to show people what the Organic College is all about.

06 December 2013

Kaethe Burt-O'Dea on the SPUDS Project

21 November 2013

Economics of Organic Production and Market Prices – Coolanowle Event

There was a large turn out for the Economics of Organic Production and Market Prices, IOFGA event that was held on November 19th at Coolanowle Farm. A big thanks to Jimmy and Bernadine Mulhall for their fantastic hosting and also to all of our speakers who gave excellent, informative presentations on the day. IOFGA would also like to thank the Organic Unit of the Department of Agriculture for their support also.