Dr. Sinead Neiland Chairperson of IOFGA stated “IOFGA are delighted to be involved in this event for National Organic week, especially as it showcases Irish organic produce and producers.”

The event has been funded by the Department of Agriculture (Organic Unit) as well as sponsorship from IOFGA, local businesses and those involved in organic production in Ireland.

Event coordinator and executive researcher at the ICSA Gillian Westbrook said “We have received very positive feedback and great support from groups and business in Portumna and the surrounding areas. We hope to make this event into an annual festival with the possibility of hosting similar type events around the Lough Derg region. Portumna Forest Park is a spectacular site with trees that are hundreds of years old and the event promises to have an almost Alice in Wonderland feel to it.”

This year, the award categories are;

1.  Best Organic Retail Product
2.  Best Organic Local product
3.  Best Organic Export Product
4.  Best Organic New Product
5.  Best Sustainable Organic Product

Each of the above five winners will then be put forward for judging for the Best Overall Organic Product.

To enter your product in the awards please download an application form here Application form National Organic Food Awards 2010

The reason that such a label needs to be introduced urgently in Ireland is that consumers all over Europe are demanding food which is guaranteed to be GM Free. A recent study in the UK found that 92% of consumers wanted labels to identify GM free food, 75% of which said that they would pay more for food which is labelled GM free.

“It is within this context that Ireland needs to ensure that it remains competitive and not only maintains but expands its markets abroad” said Grace Maher Development Officer with IOFGA. “Consumers are confused regarding GM food and labelling which makes the introduction of a GM free label essential so that consumers can be sure that they are making an informed choice when it comes to purchasing food. In organic farming GM ingredients are strictly prohibited however the introduction of a GM free label is welcome to highlight this to consumers who may not be aware of that fact. A GM free label is also important for conventional farmers who are not using GM ingredients in order to ensure that they continue to have a market for their product both in Ireland and abroad”.

The Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association (IOFGA) is the largest organic certification organisation in Ireland representing approx 1,300 farmers, growers and processors. It is responsible for certifying the organic provenance of its members produce and the IOFGA symbol indicates that a product has met the highest standard of organic integrity. IOFGA also works to inform the public about the benefits of organic food and to support the development of organic food production in Ireland.

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For further information contact

Grace Maher, Development Officer IOFGA, Tel 087-6125989

There is a limited amount of funding available to people who are organising events for National Organic Week . When applying for funding people must ensure that they are using certified organic products. To apply for funding or to order some promotional material for National Organic Week from Board Bia please visit their website for more details  www.bordbia.ie/organicform

Tuesday 20th of July -  Deirdre O Sullivan and Norman Kenny, Carbury, Co Kildare

Tuesday 27th of July – Eamonn Wallace, Bally Hall, Windgap, Callan, Co Kilkenny

Tuesday 10th of August – Liam Ryan, Moyleabbey Organic Farm, Balitore, Athy, Co Kildare

Tuesday 17th of August – Joachim Hees and Jeanette Kochen, Cloonkeen, Abbeyknockmoy, Co Galway

For more information and directions to the various farms contact irishorganicgrowers@gmail.com

“The collapse of the public dialogue set up by the Food Standards Agency in the UK last week as key personnel resigned from the panel stating that the FSA was promoting GM propaganda and incapable of carrying out an objective public consultation process highlights the extent to which pro GM groups have penetrated government bodies throughout the EU” stated Dr. Sinead Neiland Chairperson of IOFGA.

Co-existence of GM crops and conventional and organic crops is not possible and the continued promotion of GM crops needs to be reversed. The introduction of 800 genetically modified potato plants to a field in Norfolk in the UK in an attempt to make a more blight resistant potato ignores the fact that ordinary plant breeding has already given us numerous blight free potatoes the most successful being the “sharpo” variety. Contamination of GM crops is becoming more widespread just this week a GM variety of maize banned in the EU has been sown accidentally across Germany. The environmental group Greenpeace says NK603 has been planted on 3,000 hectares (7,410 acres) in seven states.

It is not clear how the contamination occurred, but it could cost farmers millions of euros, as crops will now have to be destroyed.

The Irish government outlined in its Programme for Government that the island of Ireland should be declared a GM free zone. This needs to be implemented immediately and then Ireland would be in an excellent position to supply Europe with GM free food because as the debates continue in Europe about GM crops the people of Europe are increasingly voting with their purses and purchasing food which does not have GM ingredients. It is an opportunity which Ireland should seize and use to its advantage.

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For further Information please contact

Grace Maher

Development Officer IOFGA

Tel 087 6125989

With a total prize fund of €3000 it is worth entering your organic allotment. For more information on the awards please go to  http://www.rds.ie/cat_project_detail.jsp?itemID=308412

The closing date for entrants is July 1st 2010.