Hoeys are showing the way

WE’RE told the future of the planet depends on food production being in harmony with nature and the environment as well as on new ways of generating energy and reducing waste, writes Donal Hickey

Currently standing at seven billion people, the world’s population is growing by just over 1%, or 75 million people, each year.

A stiff challenge is also being posed to Irish food producers, some of whom have been working on environmentally-friendly practices for some years.

A farm to food enterprise employing 250 people in the fertile lands of north Co Dublin is leading the way in meeting standards demanded by supermarkets and consumers under the Origin Green programme operated by Bord Bia Country Crest, a company run by the Hoey brothers, near Lusk, is believed to be the first to provide results from a five-year sustainability plan and is embarking on a second, five-year plan.

The idea is to produce traceable food in sympathy with nature.

They have cut back hugely on waste and aim to produce all of their own energy in the next five years. Already, there’s an 800KW wind turbine on site which provides 55% of their electricity needs, or enough power to run 390 houses per year. The company, which has been growing vegetables for more than 100 years, uses 100% green-derived power.

Also, old orchards, bees, hedgerows, Irish trees and grasses have been reintroduced and the community has become involved.

The Bord Bia award-winning company has reduced landfill waste from 90 tonnes to 15 tonnes and last year recycled 310 tonnes, while 80% of water used for potato washing was recycled. A wildlife habitat has also been created, 3,000 native Irish trees have been planted and a beekeeping operation started with 70,000 bees.

Globally, the global food and drinks industry faces massive challenges including climate change, ever-growing pressure on natural resources, like water, and an unsustainable demand for raw materials.

Origin Green aims to establish a framework to help Ireland’s become a world leader in sustainably produced food and drink.

Close to 500 companies have signed up for Origin Green. However, with a government Food Harvest plan capitalising on our green image and projecting a 42% growth in exports, there will be consequences for the environment.

More cattle means more greenhouse gases and more manure to be disposed of. Will this lead to further water pollution?

The EPA gives regular warnings about our not meeting targets already agreed with the EU on matters such as water quality, renewable energy, habitat protection and wildlife conservation.

The Hoeys, however, are giving a lead that could be followed by many others