Family farms are ‘crucial to the future of food production’
He was speaking in advance of today’s International Conference on Family Farming, organised by IFA and Teagasc to mark the UN International Year of Family Farming, which is to take place in the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin.
“The family farm model is crucial to agriculture in Ireland. Family is at the heart of farming right across the country,” said Mr Downey.
“This conference is a fantastic opportunity to highlight the significant contribution that farm families make to the economic and social life of local communities, producing quality food and caring for the environment.
“Future CAP programmes will have to re-focus on the core principles of food security and providing a sustainable income for farm families in order to maintain farming and economic activity across Ireland and the EU.”
The UN International Year of Family Farming (2014 IYFF) is a worldwide celebration to raise the profile of family farming by focusing attention on its significant role in providing food security, improving livelihoods, protecting the environment, and achieving sustainable development.
Meanwhile, today’s conference will also feature a speech by President Michael D Higgins, who was widely applauded for his speech in support of family farming and rural community life.
He said: “All members of society benefit the balance that a viable family farming sector provides, and they are entitled to our support in ensuring that viability in any way that we can.”
The president also said it was vitally important that farming families and their surrounding communities should benefit from any growth that may emerge for the agri-food sector in the coming years.
“Indeed, I believe that it is equally important to build up Irish agriculture’s capacity to expand into new markets globally as it is to foster a thriving family farming sector, allowing as many as possible to make a viable living out of farming.”
President Higgins will also present an award to the national winner of the FAO Year of Family Farming Awards, organised by the Irish Farmers’ Journal, in association with IFA and Teagasc.
The four provincial finalists in the running for the national title worth €5,000 will attend on the day. The finalists are the Dunphy family, dairy farmers from Easkey, Co Sligo; the Hamilton family, tillage farmers from Comber, Co Down; the Murphy family, dairy farmers from Coachford, Co Cork; and the Whyte family, tillage farmers from Naul, Co Dublin.
Today’s conference will be addressed by a number of national and international speakers, including Gerd Sonnleitner, UN Goodwill Ambassador for the 2014 International Year of Family Farming. and Professor Mandi Rukuni, Barefoot Education for Africa Trust
