VIDEO INTERVIEWS
JOHN HENEY
John Heney is Chairman of Rural Development of ICSA, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (www.icsaireland.org). In June 2004, the ICSA issued a policy paper which stated the following "ICSA favours Ireland adopting a GM free policy. By this, it is meant that GM technology would not be used in the growing of any crops or plants on Irish soil. It is also meant that farm animals in Ireland would be fed entirely GM free rations... ICSA also favours this policy being extended to become a whole island policy.
In practice, the Irish government should declare itself in favour of the GM free route and actively canvass a similar approach with the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland." Download policy.
TRANSCRIPT:
Michael O'Callaghan
Please begin by introducing yourself.
John Heney
I'm John Heney, Rural Development Chairman of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association. Established about ten years ago, we represent 10,000 beef and sheep farmers in Ireland and are growing in numbers.
Tell us about the ICSA's recent decision on genetically modified food and crops.
As we became more aware of the GM issue we felt we had to take a stance on it. So we did a certain amount of research. The two main stakeholders in the chain that we are concerned about are farmers and consumers. Our research told us that the consumer doesn't like GM. Moreover, we found the more that consumers learn about GM food, the less they like it.
We have a responsibility both to the consumer and to our own members to take a stance on this issue.
It would have been much easier for us to sit on our hands and say nothing. But we are a responsible organisation looking after the welfare of our members and our consumers. So we decided to come out against GM. We are very worried about this technology. We feel it is still in the stone age and there is very little known about it. The customer being always right, we have decided to produce GM-free food.
What was your government briefing paper about? [download]
We have requested the Government to declare Ireland a GM-free zone. Our location as an island nation at the edge of Europe has always been portrayed as a disadvantage to Irish farmers because we are so far from the European marketplace. We can now turn this disadvantage into a huge opportunity because we will have a very credible status if we declare the island of Ireland GM-free. There can be no cross-pollination here because we have miles and miles of seawater between ourselves and the next land which is the UK. We are in a unique position.
We are a hugely exporting nation from the point of view of food. We export 90% of our food production. So we position ourselves as a quality food producer for a discerning European market.
Have you been discussing your policy with people in the Government?
We had a lobbying session last week in Dublin where many of our TDs and Senators joined us. We gave three presentations and got a very positive response. They agreed with our points. I'm afraid there is a huge deficit of information amongst our politicians on the issue. At least we have started the debate as far as farmers are concerned. We are the only farming organisation in Ireland which is going down this route so far.
Apart from the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association, which is also a member of the GM-free Ireland Network.
Indeed.
Do you have any message for the members of the Irish Farmers Association and the Irish Creamery and Milk Suppliers Association?
We encourage the IFA and the ICMSA to join us in this stance, because it's hugely important for the future of the Irish farming industry. We have a responsibility to our members: we feel we are serving their interests in the best way by taking a pro-active stance on the GM issue, and we would encourage the other two farming organizations to follow our policy.
I was talking to Ruaidhri Deasy at the IFA at our recent Forging a GM Policy for Ireland workshop. He says although most Irish livestock farmers import most of their animal feed, and that most of this contains GM ingredients such as GM soy and GM corn gluten, Irish farmers could easily grow their own GM-free oats and barley to feed their cattle, sheep and pigs. In your recent ICSA press release you said going GM-free "would actually boost demand for home grown cereals such as barley and wheat; in this way, a GM free policy is positive for both Irish meat producers and Irish tillage farmers."
We have a fairly large cereal-producing sector. I've spoken to some of the larger producers and they are very worried about GM. They feel the risk of their product becoming contaminated by GM crops is a threat to their industry. We currently import a lot of animal feed but don't need to import so much. We have a great grass-growing climate in Ireland. Most of our beef is produced off grass, so the amount of animal feed required to finish the cattle is not hugely significant. I'm certain we can supply that ourselves. There may be a small cost increase, but I think that is well worth paying to establish a GM-free status which will provide a huge marketing advantage for selling Irish food in Europe.
Alan Dukes [the former Minister of Agriculture and current Chair of the Agrivision 2015 Committee] spoke about globalization at our meeting today. We need globalization but I would question his definition of it. I think it's more a matter of the Europeanisation of our food market, since we are now all in the same economic grouping. I think globalization is a larger threat than an aid to our industry.
Can Ireland maintain its current levels of meat and dairy exports if all our livestock and dairy farmers convert to locally-grown GM-free animal feed?
Without having studied the relevant research, I would say this would be no problem. Our beef is produced extensively – and virtuallly organically – although our milk is produced more intensively. So I think we are well capable of growing our own animal feed.
In the context of CAP reform, decoupling and the faming crisis, where the majority of farmers are now obliged to have secondary jobs to survive, will this new market for locally-grown GM-free animal feed create significant new employment and more keep people on the farm?
Well I'm speaking in the context of decoupling and the Mid-Term Review of the CAP, in which we need to be far more aware of our produce marketing. Up until now there has been a huge immoral waste of our resources, so now we have to be market-orientated. ICSA was aware of this when we made the decision to go GM-free. It fits in very neatly with the decoupling issue and our drive towards producing better quality food. I don't see a huge problem. People think protein could be a problem but I was listening to a recent feature on the radio where they had come up with some new ideas on growing protein plants in Ireland.
So apart from the added economic benefit of having GM-free food for export, the GM-free Ireland strategy would also help farmers to diversify into animal feed production.
It would help our cereal producers. The cereal producers whom I have spoken to are very positive about it. It's possible that we may have to import some animal feed that is guaranteed GM-free. This may incur a slight additional cost, but I think from the perspective of marketing and of our relationship with consumers, it would be a very small price to pay.
This would presumably be offset by the premium price you would get for GM-free food.
I don't like to think of ourselves as exclusive producers for affluent consumers. Our food should be available to all consumers in Europe. European consumers are relatively affluent, but I think everybody deserves good food!
Any other message you would like to send out?
I'm very encouraged! This is the first time I've become more optimistic about the future of Irish farming. There is a lot of pessimism out there, and with good reason. But Ireland having a GM-free status would lift the morale of Irish farming, encourage our farmers, and put pride back into food production. The pride has been missing for some years because of the regime we've been forced to work under with the CAP until now. CAP reform and quality food production will put the pride back into Irish farming and lift our confidence.
I very much encourage everybody ‚ and all of our politicians ‚ to keep Ireland GM-free!
