Farming community must reach out
Agri Aware chairman TJ Maher, speaking at the opening of a Wexford IFA food fair, run in conjunction with the Opera Festival, said the challenge for the farming community is very clear.
“The farming and agricultural community must constantly work towards educating, informing and building a greater understanding among school children, consumers and the wider public of the changes that are occurring in our sector at the present time.
“Extensive research conducted by Agri Aware among the general public and in particular among school children has highlighted a clear information gap regarding awareness and understanding of farming and food production,” he said.
Mr Maher said Aware Aware’s pilot project Bringing Agriculture into the Classroom found many children have no direct experience of farming and any information these receive about farming life comes from their grandparents.
Mr Maher said events like the Wexford Opera Festival provide an opportunity to inform and build a better understanding of farming practices and food production methods among a wider audience.
Agri Aware is committed to ensuring through educational, promotional and informational projects that consumers and industry are better advised and educated on the agricultural and food sector.
