Florist Ireland :: Latest News, Trends, Courses and Jobs for Florist & Flower Sector :: www.HortiTrends.com :: http://florists.posterous.com Floristry Ireland :: Horticulture Trends Latest News, Trends, Courses, Services, Products, Suppliers & Jobs for Floristry Sector in Ireland: Garden Centre, Landscape, Architecture, Nurseries, Arboriculture, Sports Turf, Greenkeepers & Fresh Produce Sectors posterous.com Thu, 21 Oct 2010 05:24:01 -0700 Minister Launches Research Call and Research Newsletter http://florists.posterous.com/minister-launches-research-call-and-research http://florists.posterous.com/minister-launches-research-call-and-research

Following on from the Food Harvest 2020 Report, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, has announced details of a €10 million Research Call across the Department's three competitive research programmes: FIRM (Food Institutional Research Measure), RSF (Research Stimulus Fund) and COFORD (Competitive Forest Research for Development).


The Minister reaffirmed his belief that a vibrant Agri-Food Industry is a key part of the Smart Economy and will play a key role in leading our country to better economic times. The Minister said "the importance of research and innovation was emphasised in the Food Harvest 2020 Report as a prerequisite to achieving the growth targets for the agrifood sector. In response to the Report I am therefore delighted to launch these very significant research initaitives".

Under FIRM a number of initiatives have been developed which will build on existing research capacity and capability and will add value to existing research outputs whilst also delivering new knowledge to underpin the future development of the food industry. The industry itself has been very involved in informing the content of the Call under the remit of the AgriVision 2015 Food Industry Research Group chaired by Dan Browne. The Minister stressed that "the outputs of the research will provide the basis to deliver on a number of the growth targets outlined in Food Harvest 2020.  One of those targets is to increase the production of milk by 50% over the next 10 years and one of the initiatives under the FIRM programme will provide the scientific knowledge to add value to this sector".

Through the Stimulus programme the Department has committed substantial resources to agriculture based research, resulting in the development of significant research capacity. The Department wishes to further strengthen this capability by supporting the development of a collaborative research network on climate change in agriculture. This network will assist the development of sustainable high calibre integrated multidisciplinary collaborative research effort and will facilitate greater participation in International Collaborative Research Initiatives in this field.

The Minister added that "in addressing the issue of competitiveness, a joint FIRM/Stimulus initiative will also be launched".

In forestry research, proposals relating to forest reproductive material and forest health and protection will be invited from Irish research institutions. Both of these research areas are vital to the productivity and well being of the forest resource, especially in times of the predicted environmental impacts from climate change.

Minister Smith stated that "benefits from projects funded under the Research Call  will accrue not only to producers and processors but also to the wider rural community". They will also contribute to improved collaboration between various research institutions and the establishment of critical mass in the respective research areas.

Further details of the research call are published on the Department's website. 

The Minister also announced the publication of the 1st edition of a new Department Newsletter - Research News . This Newsletter, produced by DAFF's Research Division, will be circulated on a quarterly basis to all DAFF's research stakeholders. It is designed to give an overview of research funded by DAFF primarily under its three competitive funding programmes (FIRM, Stimulus & COFORD), to alert researchers of EU and other international funding opportunities, and to update readers on related policy developments.  The Minister said "The launch of Research News is part of a communications strategy intended to keep relevant parties better informed of the nature, extent and value of DAFF's on-going commitment to investing in agri-food & forestry research and innovation which is seen as a priority for the future under Food Harvest 2020". The Newsletter is available to download from the DAFF website .

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Wed, 20 Oct 2010 09:24:22 -0700 DEFRA to reduce resource spending by 29% and capital spending by 34% 2010 to 2010. Ireland to Follow? http://florists.posterous.com/defra-to-reduce-resource-spending-by-29-and-c http://florists.posterous.com/defra-to-reduce-resource-spending-by-29-and-c

Over the course of the Spending Review period, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will reduce resource spending by 29% and capital spending by 34%. The Department’s Administration budget will be reduced by 33%.

Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL)

£ billion
2010-112011-122012-132013-142014-15
Resource DEL2.32.22.12.01.8
Capital DEL0.60.40.40.40.4
TOTAL DEL 2.92.62.52.32.2

In this table Resource DEL excludes depreciation

Defra will reprioritise its spending, focusing tax payer’s money on British farming and food production; enhancing the environment and biodiversity; and supporting a green economy resilient to climate change.

The Department will manage its reductions by:

Maximising the use of matched European funding for the Rural Development Programme for England, enabling a £66m reduction in domestic contributions. This will allow environmental stewardship schemes to remain open to all farmers. Defra will prioritise schemes that will be most beneficial to the environment, increasing the  Higher Level Stewardship Scheme by 80%.

  • An expected 15% efficiency saving will be made in the procurement strategy for flood and coastal defences. Savings achieved from this will be reinvested into safeguarding and enhancing protection for people and properties. It is estimated that by March 2015, better levels of protection can be expected for 145,000 households in England.
  • Making more efficient use of resources for animal welfare and disease prevention and control, by taking forward proposals to involve the industry in sharing the responsibility and cost of disease control.
  • Abolishing British Waterways as a public corporation in England and Wales; a new waterways charity will be created.
  • Funding will be stopped for 7 waste PFI projects, saving £3 million by 2014-15 and more in the longer term.

Reducing waste and bureaucracy:

  • Reducing the number of quangos Defra funds from 92 to 39.
  • Reducing red tape and unnecessary burdens on farmers and food producers, without compromising standards. The task force on Farming Regulation will report by early 2011.

Making efficiencies

  • Reducing administration costs by £174m through reductions in staff numbers, more efficient IT and procurement practices; increased use of shared services across Government; reducing the size and cost of Defra’s corporate estate.

In addition to the above, the Department will be adopting the following idea, suggested through the Spending Challenge process:

  • Reforming the Environment Agency’s staff lease car scheme – saving up to £3m per year.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said:

“Our strategic aim is to deliver on the Prime Minister’s pledge that the Coalition will be the greenest Government ever, whilst playing our part in tackling the economic deficit that we have inherited.

“This settlement reflects the need to make significant savings alongside meeting the priorities we have set and maintaining important frontline services in respect of flood defences, environmental protection and animal health monitoring.”

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Wed, 06 Oct 2010 11:18:11 -0700 Women and Agriculture Conference 2010 http://florists.posterous.com/women-and-agriculture-conference-2010 http://florists.posterous.com/women-and-agriculture-conference-2010
Women and Agriculture Conference 2010
Looking positively at ourselves, our families and our farming business is the theme of this year's Women and Agriculture conference which takes place on the 20th October in the Lyrath Hotel Kilkenny. This key event for farm women promises to be jam packed, informative, entertaining and fun day.

Over 600 women attended last year's conference and the feedback was "do it again". Bookings are coming in so to be sure of your place log on to www.irishcountryliving.ie or phone 01 4051189 and book today. €50 per person includes lunch and teas.


Programme for the Day

9.00 Registration with tea/coffee and pastries

9.30 Official Welcome, Matt Dempsey, Editor of Irish Farmers Journal

9.40 Official Opening, Helen Brophy, CEO of National Dairy Council


Session 1: Our farming business

10.00 Up the Energy I

10.10 Looking after your most valuable asset - Professor Patrick Wall, Associate Professor of Health, UCD

11.00 Break

11.20 Pension issues for farm families - Margaret Healy, Chairwoman of IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Committee

11.35 Real life family dilemmas from the Money Mentor including 5 key messages for farm families - Peter Young, Irish Farmers Journal

12.15 Financial Matters including nursing home support, civil partnerships and co-habitation, transferring the family farm and what to expect in the Budget - Declan McEvoy, Senior Tax Planning Consultant with IFAC Accountants

12.45 Questions

1.00 Lunch


Session 2: Ourselves and Our Families

2.00 Up the Energy II

2.10 Growing up together, dealing with teenagers and young adults and how best to manage the adult to adult relationship with the child who remains on the farm - David Coleman, Clinical Psychologist and popular presenter of RTE series, Families in Trouble and Teens in the Wild

2.55 EU food labelling – understanding the health claims made for food - Dr Mary Flynn, Chief Specialist, Public Health Nutrition

3.30 Flourishing under fire – "happiness is not an accessory in our lives but essential for survival, recovery and flourishing" - Dr Maureen Gaffney

5pm Close with Mairead Lavery, Editor Irish Country Living

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