ICOS conference hears of benefits of retaining CAP in current format

CONSUMERS and farmers in the EU would benefit from retaining the Common Agricultural Policy in its current format, according to delegates attending the ICOS Livestock and Marts national conference in the Heritage Hotel, Killenard, Co Laois.

Principal speakers at the co-op group’s annual forum agreed that consumers and the European taxpayer benefit just as much as the farming community from a vibrant agriculture and food industry. The CAP in its present format sustains this integral European industry and must be retained at all costs, the speakers agreed.

ICOS Livestock and Marts Committee chairman Michael Spellman said yesterday: “This is not simply a budgetary issue, as some powerful quarters wish to slash the funding of the CAP; instead it will have an impact on producers, rural communities and society across the entirety of Europe.

“The CAP has provided excellent value to Irish and European consumers and it must be vigorously defended to ensure continuing levels of food security, quality and the sustainability of production in any negotiations around budgetary reform of the CAP over the next two years.”

Mr Spellman said that the contribution made by the farming community to Europe’s food supply infrastructure has been underrated in the European Commission’s ‘CAP Towards 2020’ document. Current proposals on market measures are far too non-committal, he said.

“We want a much stronger emphasis on market supports, including the retention of intervention and export refunds. Farmers who are committed to continuing in business and young farmers must also be encouraged by CAP.

“This is also particularly important in the Irish context where the Government’s Food Harvest 2020 plan is for major increases in Irish agricultural output by 2020, including a 20% growth in the output of the beef sector.”

ICOS represents 150 co-operative businesses and organisations in Ireland including livestock marts and the dairy processing sector with 150,000 members, 12,000 employees in Ireland, a further 24,000 abroad and a turnover of €10 billion.