Irish farmers ‘must continue to play their part in helping world’s poor’

Irish family farmers must continue to play their part in tackling the challenges faced by the world’s poor through the production of high-quality food and closer co-operation with developing countries.

Agriculture, Food and Marine Minister Simon Coveney made the comment in support of an educational poster aimed at raising awareness among children of those challenges.

“I believe that Irish family farmers continue to have an increasingly important role in addressing future global challenges associated with food and nutrition security,” he said.

The poster is the result of a second year of collaboration around UN World Food Day (October 16) between the minister’s department and a number of Irish NGOs — Gorta-Self Help Africa, Agri-Aware and Concern.

Mr Coveney said he hoped the poster can be a useful tool for both schools and parents to use in discussions with their students and children about global challenges associated with food and nutrition security.

Mr Coveney said the global population is expected to grow by two billion by 2050, resulting in substantial increased demand for food, while there will be increasing pressure on natural resources such as water and biodiversity. Ireland is fully committed to playing its part in addressing these global challenges.

Dominic MacSorely, chief executive, Concern Worldwide, said great strides have been made in combating world hunger in recent years but with 840m people still hungry there is still a long way to go.

Ray Jordan, chief executive, Gorta-Self Help Africa, said it is vital that young people have a firm understanding about how and where food is produced.

Bernard Donohue, chairman, and Dr Vanessa Woods, executive director, Agri Aware, said 140,000 Irish farmers produce enough food to feed 36m people at home and across the world.