Avoca Garden Centre County Wicklow
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
The future of the Irish economy has become increasingly dependent on the agri-
food sector as the leading indigenous industry. The sector has taken decisive action in response to the challenging market environment with a strong focus on costs combined with investments to broaden the customer and market base served. These developments leave the sector in a stronger position to withstand the pressures created by the ongoing global economic situation and ever volatile exchange rates.
The export performance was boosted by a more stable consumer environment, somewhat reduced exchange rate pressures, improved relative competitiveness of Irish manufacturers and higher global prices for most agricultural commodities. The strength of this performance is highlighted by the fact that during the first nine months of 2010, food and drink exports accounted for 30% of the growth recorded in total merchandise exports. All major categories recorded increased export revenues in 2010 with the strongest growth evident in Dairy, Beverages, Meat and Seafood.
Looking ahead to 2011 the prospects for food and drink exports remain broadly positive, helped by relatively strong global demand for commodity products and a tight supply situation in a number of key product categories.
Click here to view the related press release - "Bord Bia: Irish Food & Drink Key Export Driver as Sales Approach €8 billion"
Download the report in (PDF format):
Export Performance and Prospects for 2010-2011
| GreenSpace news |
| Full green space advocacy document released GreenSpace has published an extended version of its Blue Sky Green Space advocacy document, comprehensively highlighting the benefits of parks, drawing from a substantial evidence base. The well-received executive summary of the document was presented to ministers last year on behalf of GreenLINK to keep green spaces on the political agenda. The paper outlines the many benefits that a diverse range of quality green spaces bring, covering health; communities; economic and environmental value. Blue Sky Green Space is intended to be a collaborative, fluid format - reacting appropriately to the latest research - and will be updated accordingly. More GreenLINK brings together, at a national level, organisations that are active in the parks and green space sector. Participating organisations include charities and trusts, social enterprises and other non-governmental bodies. The next meeting will take place on 21 January. Please email Sarah Cox at sarahc@green-space.org.uk for more information. GreenSpace stepping up social media activity The new year has signalled the launch of GreenSpace’s new social media action plan. Increased activity on Twitter will allow us to spread information and respond to enquiries as quickly as possible. This feed will be particularly useful for sharing daily news and events that haven’t made it into The Bench. To stay up-to-date with sector news, or to ask us a question, see www.twitter.com/GreenSpaceUK . The GreenSpace Community Network will also be looking to engage with the public through Facebook, and is set to unveil its page in the coming weeks. Membership to the Community Network is free to all community groups, with benefits including knowledge sharing and discounts on many GreenSpace offerings. More Also in 2011... GreenSpace will be exhibiting at green and ethical lifestyle show UK Aware on 25-26 March 2011. Our magazine Green Places is a media sponsor of the event. The show is taking place during Climate Week, a national campaign week against climate change, which we are also supporting. Not a professional but still interested in parks? The Community Bench is a newsletter dedicated to members of the community who would like to keep up to date with the latest developments affecting their green space. The Community Bench provides updates on news, funding avenues and events, as well as profiling members of community groups across the country to help spread learning and good practise. Sign up here. ^^top |
| Sector news |
| CABE Space publishes guide to successful green space management CABE Space has released a new document examining how the organisation and structuring of parks and green space services affects their performance. 'Managing green spaces: seven ingredients for success’ brings together evidence to assist green space managers, corporate decision-makers and advisors in deciding the future of services. It sets out seven ‘ingredients for success. and outlines the resources that green space managers can draw on to describe the critical services that green spaces provide to local communities. A summary of the research is published on the CABE website, and a full version is available here. Following its loss of funding, CABE's online presence is now an archived version of the organisation's website as of 1 January 2011. Although the site will no longer be updated. the permanent archive, provided by the National Archive, will still be of great value to practitioners in the sector, particularly the technical advice section specifically for green space managers. More Parks across the UK receive Lottery cash boost The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) have announced the latest round of confirmed funding for parks through their joint Parks for People funding programme. Wandle Park in Croydon receives £1.9 million to restore its original Victorian features and The Green in Allerdale, Cumbria has been allocated £1.2 million will partly go towards training for up to 80 new staff. HLF has also separately awarded £2.5 million to Aberdeen’s Duthie Park and £820,000 to Cwmdonkin Park in Swansea, while a further 11 parks have received first-round passes. A full list of parks and their planned spending areas are detailed on the HLF website, accompanied by a quote from GreenSpace General and Business Development Manager David Tibbatts praising the continued Lottery funding. More Royal approval for the role of parks The Queen’s Christmas message focused on the value of play and exercise to the nation, particularly recognising the health benefits of such activities as the 2012 Olympics draw nearer. In her address to the nation, the Queen paid tribute to the sport played by those “in the parks of towns and cities and on village greens up and down the country.” These visits, she added, “play a part in providing a different perspective on life.” More 2011 - International year of forests The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. Events taking place throughout the year are designed to raise awareness and promote ‘forests for people’. More Parks services recognised in national awards night The Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Performance Networks Awards 2010 were held in December. The awards celebrate the best performers from local councils in frontline public services and those services that have made the most improvement on performance. Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council was awarded 'top performer' in the parks, open spaces and horticultural services category. 'Most improved performer' in the category was Dumfries and Galloway Council. Both winners were presented their awards by Kirsty Rhind, forum manager of GreenSpace North West, who sponsored the awards category. APSE’s Performance Networks service hosts the UK’s largest voluntary data benchmarking group for local councils, which helps them to improve value for money and quality in local public services. More ^^top |
| Diary dates |
| For a full list of upcoming events in the sector, visit the GreenSpace sector events page. 20 January 2011 SUDS foundation course Organiser: CIRIA Location: London Contact: www.ciria.org A one-day training programme to enable practitioners to efficiently plan, design, construct and manage SUDs schemes.2 February 2011 Natural Connections: the role of green space in connecting people to their local environment Organiser: Countryside Recreation Network Location: Sheffield Contact: www.countrysiderecreation.org.uk A one-day conference exploring the changes in the concepts of 'natural' and 'outdoors', and what this means for the services that green spaces provide and how it is managed - as a component or urban and rural infrastructure. 10 February 2011 Inspecting Play Areas - cutting the cost Organiser: London Play Location: London Contact: www.londonplay.org.uk A morning seminar showing how significant savings can be made and systems improved by reducing paperwork and having a smarter approach to inspections.14 February 2011 Green Flag demonstration day Organiser: GreenSpace East Midlands Location: Shipley Country Park, Derbyshire Contact: www.green-space.org.uk/eastmidlands A one-day event to learn about the scheme, its award categories and their criteria, site and assessments, mystery shopper, the scheme timetable and benefits of winning an award. The day will achieve this through presentations, examples, outdoor activities and a site visit. 22 February 2011 Enhancing sites for natural play Organiser: Environmental Training Network Location: Birmingham Contact: shop.btcv.org.uk A one-day course to explore the process of enhancing sites for children’s natural play in parks, country parks, heritage sites, school grounds, play areas and other open spaces. 23 February 2011 Improving access to paths Organiser: Paths for All Location: West Lothian Contact: www.pathsforall.org.uk A one-day course providing essential information for improving access to paths for everyone in the countryside. Learn to evaluate your own path provision in order to make reasonable adjustments, improving accessibility to a wider range of users. |
| | January 2011 |
| Happy New Year! Here we are again, the old year is just a memory and (hopefully) everyone is filled with optimism for 2011. Our mission for the New Year is truly to ‘Colour your Lives’! ResourcesThis means equipping retailers with the tools they need to get even better results in their planterias than they did in 2010. Go online at www.colour-your-life.co.uk to see the new suite of materials plus the full list![]() ![]() ![]() of promotional themes for the coming year. Materials are available directly from the website, via the on-line poster service or to create directly from the special CD ROM (drop us a line if you need one and we’ll send it out). The flexibility is there so that whatever medium works best for you – you can choose it. For established users, you’ll notice some exciting innovations and improvements, including the possibility to scale your logo to whatever size suits you.CommunicationThe digital newsletter has proved to be a fantastic success with more retailers reading and benefiting from it every month. Feedback suggests that it is a targeted and efficient way for people to access campaign stories and news – Do you know someone who would benefit from this newsletter ?
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| Play your cards right and get loyalty from your customers! A well marketed Loyalty or Reward scheme is a great way of engaging with your customers and get them returning to Another survey carried out by Loyalty specialist ICLP found that Tesco and Boots topped the poll of retailers shoppers have the strongest relationship with. Both of these retail giants have loyalty schemes which are probably the most popular in the UK. Stuart Evans, ICLP UK general manager says: “It is clear that customers want something in return for their loyalty. When UK shoppers feel the pinch of the VAT increase next year, this call will surely get louder and go out to more and more top UK brands." | |
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| We don't like to blow our own trumpet.... So we let others do it for us! Over the last few months we have heard from retailers who find our campaign an asset to their business; this month we hear from Louise Canfield. Louise is in charge of POS at a major independent garden centre in Hertfordshire. | |
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The GLDA is an association of qualified and experienced garden designers and landscape architects who are also plant experts, which was formed in 1995 to set and maintain the highest professional standards in the field. The founders believed there was a need for a truly professional umbrella organisation, dedicated to the pursuit of excellence, and that such an Association would bring immense benefits and security to the public, the designers and the future of garden-making and landscaping in Ireland.
Before becoming a Full Member, each applicant is rigorously assessed by an external panel of professionals, made up of acknowledged experts from the design, horticultural, and academic sides of the profession.
The faith of those early members was not misplaced. Within a few short years the GLDA has grown to become a dynamic force for good, which is now at the forefront of the revolution in Irish gardening. Through its ongoing training opportunities in drawing and surveying, its practical workshops and field trips, its intelligence gathering network, and most publicly, its highly acclaimed annual international design seminar, the GLDA disseminates new information on methods, techniques and current best practice in landscape design and horticulture, and has created a new demand for improved quality and increased availability of a much wider and more interesting selection of plants.
Scientists may be able to halt global honey bee losses by forcing the deadly Varroa mite, lethal in the freezing weather, to self destruct.
The blood-sucking Varroa is the biggest killer of honey bees world-wide, having developed resistance to beekeepers’ medication. It is particularly destructive in winter as depleted colonies do not have enough bees huddling together to keep warm.
Now researchers from the Government’s National Bee Unit and Aberdeen University have worked out how to ‘silence’ natural functions in the mites’ genes to make them self destruct.

Dr. Alan Bowman from the University of Aberdeen said:
“Introducing harmless genetic material encourages the mites’ own immune response to prevent their genes from expressing natural functions. This could make them self destruct.
“The beauty of this approach is that it is really specific and targets the mites without harming the bees or, indeed, any other animal.”
Dr Giles Budge from National Bee Unit, part of the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera), said:
“This cutting edge treatment is environmentally-friendly and poses no threat to the bees. With appropriate support from industry and a rigorous approval process, chemical-free medicines could be available in five to ten years.”
Environment Minister Lord Henley said:
“Bees are essential to putting food on our table and worth £200m to Britain every year through pollinating our crops. This excellent work by UK scientists will keep our hives healthy and bees buzzing.”
The process uses the Nobel Prize-winning theory ‘RNA interference’, which controls the flow of genetic information. So far the ‘silencing’ has worked with a neutral Varroa gene, which has no significant effect on the mite. Scientists now need to target a gene with the specific characteristics that are perfect to force the Varroa to self destruct.
Tests by other scientists have shown the treatment can be added to hives in bee feed. The bees move it into food for their young, where the Varroa hides.
I had just returned from Scotland and had rented the front room of the house from were I slept and worked. I was still, by 2 or 3 months, 24 years of age. Not the prettiest start, maybe, but I had to start somewhere….
A friend designed a logo and made me one t-shirt and one fleece jacket. Some headed paper and business cards were made. At the time I borrowed a friends fax line number so ‘I looked more professional’. I also used my folks home address. I bought a second hand computer [that couldn't work the internet] and printer for IR£80 and I was, put in extremely simple terms, in business.
I don’t have many images from that or the early years. Digital cameras weren’t out then. I did find this promo flyer that was done in that year and this image from January 2004 is the earliest I know of not on a photo negative.
I was trying to think of some firsts/ milestones for this post… 10 years is a long time. These are the few that immediately come to mind….
But then there’s also some nice reading that tells the story well on the home and about pages.
These words that I have used for many years probably summise what I want to say quite well. Here’s to another 10 years. Thank you.
Whilst I flicked through my diary and realised just how much I actually had done… it should be noted that none of this would make any sense without someone to share the stories, the laughter and equally the tears with. I am forever greatful to the so many great friends and people I have met along this years road. From my heart, thank you.
Did I enjoy it? Every second. Don’t get me wrong… no road is an easy an easy one especially when I work in an industry that is so weather dependant and I am self employed. That is not a complaint…. more an additional reason to appreciate the people who stand tall by my side when times are a little tougher. You were there too when we laugh our socks off.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh. Thank you again, everyone, for everything.
Peter

Saturday & Sunday 22nd - 23rd January 2011 | 09.30 - 17.00 | €175 / Early Bird €150 ends 14th Jan | Book Online Here | The Greenhouse, 17 St Andrew St, Dublin 2 | Map | PDF Invite
In these challenging times how can we use collaborative forms of leadership, innovation, fundraising and community building to strengthen our entrepreneurial and change projects?
This workshop introduces:
This workshop is highly interactive and features short presentations from leading practitioners. Our learning will grow out of everyone’s contributions and presence. We will
support each other as co-learners. We will learn by observation, through stories from experienced practitioners, through reflecting on our own experience and practice, using interactive processes to build a safe and inspiring learning environment. We invite you to a collective inquiry.
Biographies of Facilitators
Simone Poutnik is a social entrepreneur, designer and facilitator of
collaborative innovation processes. She initiated and co-founded the Hub
Brussels - an inspiring space for people with ideas for a better world and
Natural Innovation, where she works with diverse groups of people from
government, business, non-profit and art organisations on experiential
learning and collaborative innovation for resilient futures.
www.natural-innovation.net
Hendrik Tiesinga designs and facilitates collaborative learning
and innovation processes in the field of sustainability in business and
social innovation. He is a co-founder of Natural Innovation and the Finance
Innovation Lab, a multi-stakeholder collaboration for sustainable
innovation in the financial sector in the UK. His other projects range from
collaborative space design to multi-stakeholder labs on metropolitan
agriculture.
www.natural-innovation.net
Chris Chapman is an experienced facilitator and host who specialises
in creating safe spaces to support deep and transformational work.
He is fascinated with how we blend individual, collective and global agendas
and how we can support the development of leaders fit for the times
we are in.
www.changeexploratory.com
Davie Philip is the Communications Manager at the Green Works
Tipperary Hub and runs the Community Resilience programme at Cultivate.
He lives in the Ecovillage in Cloughjordan and is currently the coordinator
for the Transition Network in Ireland and sits on the board of
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
www.green-works.ie | www.cultivate.ie
‘Your Business, Your Bank’ was prepared by the Credit Supply Clearing Group and offers advice for businesses, focusing on relationship-building, ensuring confidence and accessing credit.
Enterprise Minister Batt O’Keeffe welcomed the launch and said…
The guide outlines various funding options open to businesses, provides an insight into what banks are looking for when examining credit applications, imparts information on credit pricing, and reveals practical tips on how to package credit applications
The guide takes into account the significant changes in the economic climate and credit requirements.
Minister O’Keeffe continued…
Before 2008, most credit applications were for loans for new capital investments but the severe economic downturn has brought about a dramatic shift in that trend.
This guide is timely in setting out the funding options for small businesses, outlining how they can access the kind of credit they need, and drawing together multiple stakeholders across Government and the enterprise community towards the common cause of recovery in the domestic economy,
The Credit Supply Clearing Group was setup by the Government in May last year.
The guide will compliment a new standard credit application form created by the Credit Review Office, designed to provide banks with all the information required to assess an credit application.
The full guide can be viewed here 200kb pdf

Dr. Matthew Jebb MA, DPhil (Oxon) has been appointed, by the Office of Public Works, as the new Director of the National Botanic Gardens, and took up the post from the 1st September. A graduate of Oxford University and former researcher at Trinity College, Dr Jebb has lived for over 5 years in Papua New Guinea, and has been Keeper of the Herbarium and Taxonomist (Ainmneoir Plandai) at the National Botanic Gardens since 1998. He has represented Europe as a vice-president on the bureau of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and is currently Chairman of PlantNetwork, the Plant Collections Network of Britain and Ireland. See here for more information on Matthew Jebb. . .
The Centre’s focus is on conserving Biodiversity in a changing world where sustainability of natural resources is a challenging but important goal. It is crucial in ensuring that our global society can develop to its full potential within awell-protected environment, balancing economic, social and environmental demands – the three 'pillars' of sustainability. Sustainable utilisation of the natural world and its biodiversity requires wide, cross-disciplinary analysis including natural and social sciences, engineering solutions, economic assessment and strategic planning; combining them to provide effective transformations towards a more sustainable society.


Biodiversity is defined as the variability among living organisms from all sources including the ecological complexes of which they are part. It is the foundation of ecosystem services upon which human well-being depends. However, biodiversity is being lost at an unprecedented rate, which is eroding our capacity to sustain the planet. Given the recent recognition of climate change as a key driver for biodiversity loss, in association with historical challenges of habitat and land use change, the conservation of biodiversity is at the core of sustainable development. It is only through the utilisation of the living environment in a renewable fashion that we can achieve a sustainable future.
The Centre for Biodiversity Research represents a core of skilled academic researchers in the field and aims to promote innovative and interdisciplinary research encompassing all aspects affecting the natural world. The Centre is the first of its kind in Ireland and is a flagship initiative for the School of Natural Sciences and for Trinity College and has strong links with other centres working on related topics
The 2010 Agricultural Journalism Awards were presented by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food, Mr.Brendan Smith TD, at an awards ceremony in AIB Ballsbridge, Dublin.
Organised by the Guild of Agricultural Journalists of Ireland, in association with AIB, the awards are presented every two years for work of outstanding merit in six different categories with an Overall Winner being chosen from the six category winners. All the entries are judged by an independent panel of judges.
This year the Overall Winner was Agri Aware for its “Incredible Edibles” campaign that targeted primary school children around the country with the objective of increasing the consumption of fruit and vegetables, promoting a balanced diet, and highlighting the role of the farmer in producing quality safe food.
In 2010, 79% or 2,635 primary schools participated in the programme, and each school received a free growing pack which has everything they need to grow potatoes, strawberries, lettuce, carrots and spinach.
CATEGORY SHORTLISTS AND WINNERS
NATIONAL PRINT
GMO Series, Stephen Cadogan, Farm Examiner
Money Mentor, Peter Young, Country Living, Irish Farmers Journal
Family Ties – The Meehans, Maria Moynihan, Country Living, Irish Farmers Journal
Glanbia Demerger Analysis, Pat O’Keeffe and Liam O’Neill, Irish Farmers Journal
WINNER - GLANBIA DEMERGER ANALYSIS by Pat O’Keeffe and Liam O’Neill
NATIONAL BROADCAST
Tractor Theft, Darragh McCullough, Ear to the Ground (RTE 1)
Opera Farmer, Helen Carroll, Ear to the Ground (RTE 1)
Higher Ground, Peter Young & Paul McCarthy, Good Company Productions for RTE
Flooding, Damien O’Reilly, Countrywide (RTE Radio One)
WINNER - HIGHER GROUND by Peter Young & Paul McCarthy
LOCAL MEDIA
What’s Best for Glanbia Farmer-Suppliers? Sean Keane, Kilkenny People
Flanders Fields War Harvest, Rodney Magowan, Farm Week
WHY? Double Misery as John’s Herd is Wiped Out Again! Chris McCullough, Farm Week
WINNER - WHY? by Chris McCullough
TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS
Agricultural Land Price Survey, Shirley Busteed, Irish Farmers Journal
Herd Health – Getting to Grips Will Save Money, Riona Sayers, Today’s Farm - Teagasc
CASH COWS – Milking More Money from Grass, Jack Kennedy, Irish Farmers Journal (DVD)
WINNER - LAND PRICE SURVEY by Shirley Busteed
TARGETED COMMUNICATIONS
Standing Their Ground – Farm Women Pension Rights Campaign, Irish Farmers Association
Incredible Edibles – Schools Growing Vegetables Campaign, Agri Aware
WINNER - INCREDIBLE EDIBLES by Agri Aware
PHOTOGRAPHIC
Here’s Looking At You Kid! (Glanbia SGM), Fergal O’Gorman, Freelance
The Long Acre, Belmullet, Pat O’Keeffe, Irish Farmers Journal
Combine Harvesters, Duleek, Chris McCullough, Farm Week
WINNER - COMBINE HARVESTERS by Chris McCullough, Farm Week
OVERALL AWARD 2010 – “THE BULL” TROPHY - INCREDIBLE EDIBLES, Agri Aware
JUDGING PANEL
The members of the judging panel were Conor Brady, Chairman, (former Editor, Irish Times), Frances Ruane (ESRI), Jimmy Brett (Brett Bros.), John Gilliland (former President, UFU), Prof. Paddy Wall (UCD), and Colm Cronin (PR Consultant).
SPECIAL AWARD
A special award for “Communications with the Rural Community” was presented by AIB to veteran journalist, Ray Ryan, who recently retired from the Irish Examiner, for his unique contribution to communications with the farming and rural sectors in Ireland over the last 48 years. Ray spent 10 years with The Kerryman and 38 years with the Cork/Irish Examiner, the last 13 years as Agricultural Correspondent.
There is a pressing need to formulate a strategy on farming and the wider issue of rural development. Such a strategy needs to be built up and developed by the communities directly affected by rural under-development. We believe that its core objective should be to break the cumulative cycle that starts with population decline, leading to a reduced demand for services, which leads to fewer employment opportunities and ultimately migration out of rural areas.
Throughout Ireland there are communities fighting their way out of this cycle with little or no aid from central government. These communities have often formed their own new co-operatives, local currency networks, social enterprise and development projects. They have started organic farming projects, agri-tourism initiatives and other diversified agricultural businesses.
These communities need proper funding and resources from central government. They need local government structures that can adapt to their needs.
Sinn Féin believes that the core objectives of any rural development programme should be:
Sinn Féin also proposes:
Real reform of the CAP
Its original objectives were to maintain the maximum amount of farmers on the land while ensuring a proper standard of living for farmers and fair prices to consumers. This has not been delivered. The CAP funding mechanisms must be changed to help small farmers.
A funding initiative to promote organic farming in Ireland
Organic farming becomes commercially viable on a much smaller acreage than current farming. Such a programme will promote rural repopulation and could be vital element in breaking the current cycle of rural under-development.
Support for other projects
Other projects such as encouraging co-operative agricultural projects and broadleaf forestry projects should be vigorously promoted and supported.
Matching funds for rural enterprise projects
The bulk of funding for economic development currently goes to foreign export-orientated companies. Sinn Féin believes there should be equity in the allocation of funding for enterprise projects. Funding for indigenous enterprise projects have been cut in recent years.
Ending discrimination against local enterprise projects
There is also another level of discrimination in domestic funding mechanisms. Enterprise Ireland, the agency responsible for developing indigenous business, currently favours aiding businesses with export potential, overlooking the community and social enterprise sector. Sinn Féin believes that this form of economic discrimination should end.
An increase in Leader funds
The success of rural development projects under the EU Leader Programme is well recognised. However, such community-orientated funds only account for 7 per cent of the funding coming into the island over the next seven years. Sinn Féin believes that Leader funds are a vital part of any rural regeneration programme and should be the substantial part of EU funding flowing to rural areas.
A national conference
The crisis in rural Ireland is one that must be acted on now. Central government in Ireland should be prevailed upon to hold a national conference that could formulate a strategy to promote rural development in Ireland. Such a conference would have to be organised on a bottom-up participatory basis and not be solely representative of the vested interests that dominate agri-business and rural policies today.
The North-South Ministerial Conference (NSMC) has a role to play in organising this initiative. There is a pressing need for the formulation of policies on branding an all-Ireland national beef and dairy herd as well as making Ireland a centre for organic food within the EU.
These steps should be the beginning of a wider process of developing an all-Ireland strategy on agriculture.
EU funds
The EU must recognise the island as one economic unit when it comes to the allocation of EU funds and the application of policy. A crucial aspect of this would have to be a recognition of the need to recognise, through funding and policy formulation, the special needs of the Border regions to have their agricultural economies fully integrated.
EU programmes such as Leader should be administered immediately on an all-Ireland basis.
Organic food and the GM issue
There is a clear need for an integrated approach to organic farming throughout the island.
The island as a whole should be declared a GM-free zone. Not only would this be a major boost for the quality of food products being sold to Irish consumers but it would also help hugely the marketing of Irish food produce internationally. Again the NSMC has a clear role to play here.
Farmers markets and the co-operative principle
Planning law should include the need for farmers’ markets in new retail developments. Specific funding should be allocated to set up and fund such markets which must be run on the co-operative principle by the local communities in which those markets are sited.
Bringing quality back into Irish farming
There is a need to bring quality back into the Irish farm sector right from the decisions being made by the individual farmers, the food processors and abattoirs right down to the supermarkets and exporters.
We need an island wide code of principles for farm practices and commercial food processing. BSE and other diseases have been created not by chance but by the commercialisation of farming.

I am delighted to be able to present this report to the Committee. It is the fruit of much work in consultation with a wide range of people involved in the farming and fishing sector. As such it represents an accurate picture of both the current state of the rural…Read more

Download a PDF of Sinn Féin's “Awakening the West - Overcoming Social and Economic Inequality”. Read more
Martin Ferris TD Phone: (01) 6184248
Email: martin.ferris@oireachtas.ie
Martin Ferris is Sinn Féín TD for Kerry North and party spokesperson on Agriculture and Rural Development, Environment and Local Government and Communications Energy & Natural Resources. He has been outspoken in highlighting the need for a co-ordinated strategy to re-build rural communities which have become depopulated over the last decade due to a lack of government strategy and the ongoing withdrawl of essential services.
He was elected to Kerry County Council and Tralee UDC in 1999 and to Leinster House for the constituency of Kerry North in 2002 and again in 2007. As the party's EU candidate for Munster in 1999 he received almost 30,000 votes. He is playing a key role in the development of the party across the country.
Martin was part of the Sinn Féin negotiating team and participates in party delegations which meet with the Irish and British governments. He has travelled extensively in support of the peace process.
Martin Ferris is married with six children. He has been an active republican since 1970 and was jailed for his political beliefs in the 1980s.
No Change in Payment Level for Main Agriculture Schemes
The key schemes in relation to agriculture have seen no reduction in their rates. This means that for 2011, farmers participating in the Disadvantaged Area Scheme, REPS 4, AEOS and the Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme will receive the same rate of payments as 2010. While this may be taken as a positive, it should be noted that payment rates under these schemes have seen substantial cuts already and farmers are getting lower rates than they did in 2008.
To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide a breakdown per county of the number of farming families in receipt of farm assist for the years 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the measures he has taken to improve farmer confidence in the beef carcase classification system; his views on whether these machines are being operated correctly at all times; the deficiencies that have been found by his inspectors in the past; and if he will make a statement on the matter
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans to establish a nitrates working group with Teagasc to identify solutions for the pigs and poultry sectors once the present arrangement changes in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter
Cork East
Euro Electoral Region:
Ireland South
Electoral Status:
Sean is currently a sitting TD for Cork East .
Address:
Davis Lane
Mallow
Co. Cork
Tel:
Phone: 022 53523
Fax: 022 57761
087-7402057
Email:
sean.sherlock@oir.ie
Website:
http://seansherlock.ie
Political Career:
Occupation:
Memberships:
Other Interests:
Birth Details:
Education:
Leinster House:
Tel: 01 6183611Fax: 01 6184560
Constituency Office Address:
2a, The Lower Mall, Wicklow Town, Wicklow
Tel: 0404-66622, Fax: 0404-66670
Internet:
http://www.andrewdoyle.ie/
E-mail:
andrew.doyle@finegael.ie
Andrew Doyle TD is a Fine Gael General Election candidate for Wicklow.
Andrew was elected to the 30th Dail in May, 2007. He was appointed Spokesperson on Agriculture, Fisheries & Food, July, 2010.
He was previously Deputy Spokesperson on Agriculture with special responsibility for Food and Horticulture.
After representing East Wicklow on Wicklow County Council since 1999, serving Chairman of the Council in 2005/2006, he was elected to represent Wicklow and East Carlow running on a Team Wicklow campaign with Billy Timmins T.D.
Since he has been elected, Andrew Doyle has been working for Wicklow /East Carlow people on many issues and on problems that effect people all over Ireland. Some of these are:
Andrew Doyle said “These policies clearly demonstrate that Fine Gael is awake to the problems this country faces. We represent the people who have the vision the willingness and the community spirit to drive Ireland back to stability and sustainable prosperity. When this is achieved, we will ensure that greed and self interest are never allowed to destroy the labours of generation”.
Date: Thursday, 16 December 2010
Time: 12:30-14:00
Venue: Wood Quay Venue, Dublic City Council Civic Offices, Dublin 2
Topics:
Innovation Fund Ireland - Damien Callaghan, Intel Capital
A Greener Future - Ian Simington, NTR plc
The Seminar will be Chaired by Peter Clinch, Special Advisor to An Taoiseach
Abstract:
A Greener Future
Ian Simington, Chief Executive of NTR plc’s Solar Division, will present an overview of what NTR plc is doing to ensure a Greener Future. As part of the presentation, Ian will talk about the financing of greentech projects and provide an overview of the work of the NTR Foundation, the philanthropic organisation established by NTR plc to address the challenges posed by climate change, resource sustainability and security of energy supply through the provision of targeted financial and expert support to projects, research and non-governmental organisations.
To register for this seminar, please click here
This is the last seminar in the current series
John Stanley
As a consumer a walk down many High Streets of the world has become a bit of a drudge. Your walk can take you past retailers who are doing the same thing in the same way as they have done for a number of years. The result of this is that many consumers are now talking about buying online, it is more convenient and less hassle and then gives them time to enjoy different experiences.
Consumers are asking for an “added value experience “ rather than be offered more “stuff’ At the same time they are losing touch with nature since urban dwellers now make up 50% of the global population and that growth increase by 80 million a year.
An urban consumer ,who is out of touch with the nature and is looking for value experiences provides retailers with new marketing opportunities.
Retailers in Belgium are known for being a bit for edgy in their merchandising and display techniques They are bolder than retailers in other countries and it is a delight to walk down the Kammenstraat in Antwerpen. This is a street that is a bit more quirky in an already quirky retail environment.
Firstly one passes “Fish and Chips” a clothes fashion store aimed at Generation Y, this is the only store I know that decorates its front window with graffiti and then sells tins of spray paint next to the counter as an impulse purchase when buying clothing. Over the road from this store is “All Saints” the UK clothing store that has some of the best theatre merchandising I am aware of in the clothing industry.
Further down the street you come to the newly opened Eilean Nature Shop .This store originated as concept developed by naturalist s and artists Robert and Angela Parkin form the UK. They found it difficult to develop the idea of a flagship store in the UK and hence went into partnership with Johan Van Wambeke and his family in Belgium to open their first store in Belgium.
This is no ordinary store, it is a store focused on bringing nature to the urban consumer.
The retailer has joined forces with Natuurpunt, the Belgium conservation group who have over 100,000 members in the Flanders area of the country.
The 450 square metres store has a number of clear objectives
1 To introduce urban consumers to the nature issues that affect them and the local community, for example the organisation is trying to reintroduce the otter back into the Belgium countryside .
2 To provide the consumer with added value products that are Fair trade and from a know “natural “ source. This allows the store to become a story teller and not just another product retailer.
3 To provide an educational platform for the consumer to become more aware of their natural environment.
The store design provides a natural setting in the city. The store layout is set in a forest with a dry watercourse and islands display area. The categories on display include toys for children, grow it yourself, outdoor clothing, artwork from famous local artists on nature themes and natural cosmetics.
To take a virtual tour of the store log onto my member site www.johnstanley.com.au . I have featured it in our December Retail World TV report on retail trends.
The consumer is looking for a new experience and the aim of the Nature Store is to provide a space where they can linger longer. Does it work? When customers walk in and you cans see them take a breath and slow down form the trudge of walking down the High Street.
Expect to see nature shops become more common on the High Street of the future.
Each workshop is targeted at individuals with a business idea that has the potential to be scaled up significantly within three years and be export driven.
Participants will have the opportunity for one-to-one consultation with Enterprise Ireland staff regarding individual needs. The workshops are practical, interactive and thought provoking. Participants will be provided with comprehensive information to understand the business development process including the key success factors and potential pitfalls as well as an outline of financial supports available from Enterprise Ireland and the County Enterprise Boards.
The next EnterpriseSTART workshops in your region are listed below:
EnterpriseSTART workshops 2010
Region | Date & Venue | Contact | Application Form | Flyer | ||
| Dublin & Mid-East | 1-2 February, 2011 Enterprise Ireland, Dublin |
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The Minister of State for Horticulture, Ciarán Cuffe TD, has announced the establishment of a Horticulture Action Group to oversee the implementation of the relevant recommendations relating to Horticulture in the Food Harvest 2020 Report.
Membership of the Group, representing the various sectors of the horticulture industry, comprises:
Mr Kieran Dunne, Nursery Stock producer
Ms Caroline Keeling, Wholesaler and Protected Crop producer
Mr John Hogan, Field Vegetable producer
Ms Lavinia Walsh, Mushroom producer
Mr Maurice Whelton, Potato producer
Mr Mike Neary, An Bord Bia
Mr Jim O'Mahony, Teagasc and
Mr Gabriel Roe, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
The remit of the Group is to focus in specific terms on the implementation of the particular recommendations in the 2020 Report relating to Horticulture and to also consider other general farm and agriculture industry level recommendations. The Group will report back to the High Level Implementation Group, which has been set up under the overall chairmanship of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Brendan Smith TD.
The Minister stated that: "the Horticultural industry has considerable potential to develop but is also facing significant challenges and that he looked forward to the Group progressing the implementation of the 2020 Food Harvest Report".
Minister Cuffe will inaugurate the first meeting of the Group on 2 December 2010.
An tSli Glas could create 10,000 jobs
Source: Business World
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Over 10,000 jobs could be created over the next five years from the An tSli Glas (The Green Way) project - the country's first green economic zone, according to a spokesman for the organisation.

An tSli Glas -The Green Way is a green economic corridor initiated by a powerful alliance of businesses, academic institutions and local authorities including Ballymun Regeneration, Dublin Airport Authority, Dublin City University, Dublin Institute of Technology, Fingal County Council, Dublin City Council and North Dublin Chamber. The goal is to position Ireland as a centre of Cleantech innovation and enterprise which will link business to investors and develop trade partnerships with other major international green corridors.
"In spite of the pressure of the recession, the role of the sector in creating useable and uplifting public spaces should not be underestimated," said Gildernew. "There are many challenges, but there is a lot to be positive about."
The overall winner, awarded the Bog Oak trophy, was Peter O'Brien & Sons, which landscaped the Point Village commercial and residential development in Dublin. Portadown-based Clive Richardson won praise for a sports pitch at Croke Park, and Landscape Centre at Ballyclare won plaudits for its walled garden at Bangor Castle.
The awards were presented by Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland chair Steven Thompson.
You can add any of the days to your diary by clicking the relevant link in the table below.
We look forward to seeing you there.
| Day | Date | Times | Add |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | 02/06/2011 | 10:00 - 18:00 | |
| Friday | 03/06/2011 | 10:00 - 18:00 | |
| Saturday | 04/06/2011 | 10:00 - 18:00 | |
| Sunday | 05/06/2011 | 10:00 - 18:00 | |
| Monday | 06/06/2011 | 10:00 - 18:00 |
You can register your interest in sponsorship using this form or by calling Paul Gallagher in EventHaus on +353 (0)1 846 0020
Chairman Kildare Growers
Executive Summary This “Plan for the Development of Horticulture in Teagasc 2010-2013” addresses both the ongoing need for change identified in Teagasc 2030 and the Teagasc Change Programme 2009-2013 as well as the need for maximising resources of horticulture in Teagasc against a background of a deteriorating budgetary position. The horticultural sector contributes over €360 million (CSO, 2008) to agricultural output at farm gate level and provides over 6,000 jobs in the production sector. In addition the amenity services sector has a value of over €2 billion and employs an estimated 12,700 people. There is considerable potential for development of horticulture at both production and value added levels. Fruit and vegetables play a very important role in addressing the nation’s health problems and horticultural pursuits contribute to a positive lifestyle. The need for ongoing industry modernisation remains a key priority to attain the efficiencies required in a competitive global horticultural industry. New EU regulations concerning pesticides were enacted in November 2009. These together with the volumes of existing regulations including the Nitrate directorate, hygiene regulations etc will have major implications for all growers as well as the input and output service industries. The goal of Teagasc will be to provide growers and the industry with the knowledge and skills to abide by these regulations while enabling growers and the industry to deliver increased profit from productivity. The primary recommendations are listed below: 1. Exploit the development potential of horticulture, prioritising mushrooms, fruit/vegetable, nursery stock/cut foliage and turfgrass sectors. a. Support innovation that adds value in the food sector taking advantage of the positive healthy profile associated with fruit/vegetables. b. Support innovation that creates diversity in the nursery stock/cut foliage sector. c. Use Producer Organisations to drive investment and consolidate market developments where possible. 2. Integrate horticultural research, advisory and education services in one programme under the leadership of a dedicated programme manager. This will better service the needs of the horticultural sector and enable rationalisation of Teagasc resources. Horticultural activities will be located at a) Ashtown/National Botanic Gardens b) Kildalton. Potato development work will be associated with the tillage crops and potato expertise in Oak Park. 3. The drivers of the horticultural programme will be a) Profit from productivity; b) Innovation for added value; c) Energy efficiency and d) stakeholders needs. 4. Teagasc will form a “Horticultural Commodity Team” comprising representatives from Teagasc, Bord Bia, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and stakeholders representing sectoral interests including growers and the industry. This team will provide leadership and coordination to the horticultural industry. Enterprise teams will be established to provide leadership to the individual sectors. A Joint Programme Development Team with representatives from Research, Advice and Education will draw up the annual Teagasc Horticulture Business Plan. 5. Key appointments required subject to resources are: a. entomologist to service the needs of all horticultural production; b. Specialist-Researcher on potatoes; c. Specialist-Researcher on mushrooms; d. Post doctorate or post graduate researcher on cut foliage; and, e. Knowledge transfer person dealing with horticultural web content, publications, short courses and public events.
Director of Horticulture at Teagasc Jim O’Mahony is making ready for the public domain and all interested industry sectors. Stay tuned to HortiTrends for this and other latest news updates!
Garden and Landscape Design Seminar, Saturday 29th January 2011
Inspired: What drives successful design?
Design is borne of many things; Ego, empathy , passion, skill, history, belief, knowledge, vision, bravery, economy and emotion all play their part in stimulating designers to solve problems, satisfy desires and overcome challenges. What drives and constitutes successful design is a somewhat more complex issue. While consensus may be reached on intent, function and aesthetics, the shifting sands of time alter perception, attitude and environment making it an essentially ephemeral agreement; And one which design professionals have debated for eons.
To frame a contemporary vision of what drives successful design, the Garden and Landscape Design Association (GLDA) have enlisted the genius of some of Europe’s most respect design professionals for a day of insight, opinion and debate. Now in its 15th successful year, the GLDA design seminar, which is aptly entitled, Inspired: What drives successful design? Will take place on Saturday 29th of January at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. The speaker line-up for the eagerly awaited 2011 seminar features multi award-winning design professionals of national and international acclaim, including Tom Stuart-Smith, Róisín Heneghan of Heneghan Peng Architects, Hugh Ryan MGLDA and James Doyle of James Doyle Associates.
As the design calendar event of the year places are already being snapped up. To secure your place at this exciting event you are encouraged to book early. For tickets and further information contact the GLDA office on: 01 2940092, info@glda.ie or via www.glda.ie.
This event is proudly supported by Bord Bia, Ireland’s Food Board.
| "Operation Chip It" News | November 3, 2010 |
Facts about “Operation Chip It”
Different messages about ‘Operation Chip It’ are circulating in the media. Some are correct, but there are also many misunderstandings. The short and simple facts are as follows:
Scan your CC Containers – YOUR Guarantee!Containers without a genuine CC RFID tag are not accepted in the CC Pool System. Therefore, we recommend that you always scan the containers you receive. More information
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John and Linda Stanley, the owners of John Stanley Associates are having a year of awards.
This is the third recognition of their endeavours in the last twelve months. Twelve months ago the couples business was awarded the Small Business Champions Award for Training and Education in Western Australia and John was awarded Small Business Champion Entrepreneur of the Year for Western Australia.
In July the UK horticultural press placed John in the top 100 most influential people in the UK horticultural retail industry; this was for the second year running and he was the only non UK resident in the list.
This latest award is in recognition of the amount of work the couple do outside of Australia helping small businesses to grow and prosper. On the awards presentation night, John and Linda could not be present to accept their award as they are working with retailers in Hungary, Czech and Poland. Their Eastern European work is a combination of conference presentations, consultancy and retail workshops. The couple work in 28 countries on all Continents where businesses exist, they have worked in Czech before, but this is the first time they have worked in Poland and Hungary. Their first trip to Poland has already resulted in four more trips being organised to work with the industry.
You can take a look at their calendar of work on their website www.johnstanley.com.au
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG), the world's leading marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products, today announced that Jim Hagedorn has decided to continue to serve as both chairman and chief executive officer. In 2008, Mr. Hagedorn announced his intention to retire as CEO during this fiscal year.
"The success we've seen over the past two years has been exciting, but it really just reinforces how much more opportunity remains for our Company and the lawn and garden category," Hagedorn said. "While I thought I wanted to step aside after I turned 55, I've decided I want to stay engaged in the business and, with the approval of our Board of Directors, intend to do so."
ScottsMiracle-Gro also said that Mark Baker, who was hired as president and chief operating officer two years ago, has departed the Company and the Board of Directors.
"While I will miss the good friends I have made over the past two years, my decision to leave is the right thing for the Company," Baker said. "Jim is a strong and charismatic leader and I continue to share his vision for ScottsMiracle-Gro. I wish him and all 8,000 associates good luck and I am confident in their continued success."
Additionally, Barry Sanders has been named president of the Company, effective immediately.
Sanders joined ScottsMiracle-Gro in 2001, overseeing the implementation of a new enterprise resource planning system as well as the consolidation of the North American Consumer business. He later led the sales force in the U.S. and was then promoted to lead the Company's Global Supply Chain. In 2008, Sanders was selected to lead the U.S. Consumer business and, earlier this year, was named executive vice president of the entire Global Consumer segment.
"I am confident that the leadership team here is as strong as we've ever had," Hagedorn said. "Barry has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to drive profitable growth and has repeatedly set a clear direction for his team, and has been tenacious in driving results.
"I also want to acknowledge the important contributions that Mark Baker made to this Company. As President and COO he helped us implement changes that will benefit us for years to come. And the insights he provided during his seven-year tenure on our Board made our discussions more productive and truly helped to guide the vision and strategy of our Company. I look forward to continuing my 20-year friendship with Mark. He leaves us on good terms and I want to thank him for all he has done," Hagedorn said.
It is with great sadness that we report the recent death of a popular and hardworking horticultural colleague. I asked Jim's colleagues in Teagasc for a few words.
“The death has recently taken place of Jim Kelleher, Teagasc Nursery Stock Specialist advisor. Jim was based at Kildalton for a long number of years both as an advisor and lecturer in horticulture. He started his career in County Wicklow where he served in the early 80’s. During his time at Kildalton Jim was seconded to Avonmore/Glanbia where he headed up the emerging forestry division before returning to Kildalton. Jim made a very significant contribution to horticultural development. In January 2010, despite the onset of his illness, Jim was a key driver of plans for the Nursery sector as outlined in the “Plan for the Development of Horticulture in Teagasc 2010-2013”. Socially Jim was great company – a renowned raconteur and able musician! Jim will be sadly missed by his clients, colleagues and friends in Teagasc and particularly at Kildalton.
All at Teagasc send our sympathies to Jim’s wife Kathleen and family.
"Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”

Jim at the National Plant Fair, Punchestown 2009.
Photo: Koraley Northen

John Whelan
The leap in exports was driven by an aggressive 12.8pc growth in merchandise exports, according to the Exporters Association (IEA) third quarter review.Good growth in merchandise and services exports brought total Irish exports for the third quarter to €40.4bn, marking a 9.3pc increase on last year.
The Association’s chief executive John Whelan said the export effort continues to show Ireland the “way out of the recession”.
The review said that merchandise exporters gained from a broadening out of the growth across most of the main international trading markets. Exchange rate competitiveness and continued buoyancy in global trade also assisted the acceleration in export growth.
Whelan said the euro exchange rate with the dollar in the three months toSeptember was, on average, 10pc lower than it was in 2009. “This helped Irish manufactured goods exports to the US rise by 32pc in value,” continued Whelan. “This reversed the losses in exports to that market over the last two years. This indicates clearly that Irish exports are now competitive into the US, provided the US Treasury does not re-enter the currency market to weaken the dollar.”
Whelan added that the exchange rate with sterling also improved during the quarters, helping exports to the UK rise by 4pc. This was particularly important for the indigenous sector which trades heavily to the UK market, said Whelan.
The agri-food sector increased its export sales by 14pc. Services exports grew 4.9pc, a more modest growth than its aggressive pattern in the first half of the year. The Association expects export sales will continued to be strong for the rest of the year, and therefore has revised its forecast for the year to €158.9bn in total exports.
It added that Irish exports could grow faster next year if the Budget 2011 is supportive of the export sector and does not increase the cost of exporting from Ireland. The IEA Pre-Budget Submission outlines the key routes to export expansion that should be supported in the Budget.
Whelan stated that despite the strong overall performance of Ireland exports, it is hard to overstate the difficulties faced by exporters in 2010. He said volatile exchange rates, reduced trade finance for expansion, withdrawal of bank bond guarantees, withdrawal of invoice discounting cover and credit insurance difficulties all are problems which exporters still face.
However, he concluded, “There is clear evidence that exporters can drive their way out of this recession and bring economic growth with it, but it is essential that the upcoming Budget supports export growth and does not increase the cost of doing business in Ireland.”
The UKLA shortlist has been announced and the details on the six finalists are revealed here...
A shortlist of six UK landscapes were announced on 12 October as contenders for the first-ever UK Landscape of the Year soon to be revealed at the Landscape Convention Conference in November…
The six finalists from the transformed heritage coastline in Durham to a bustling city-based network of green spaces in Sheffield, represent the rich variety of work going on the profession today. The shortlist is:
The winning landscape will go on to represent the UK in the European Landscape Award, which takes place in Strasbourg in March 2011.
Commenting on the announcement, Natural Environment Minister, Richard Benyon, said: “Whether you’re in a town or in the countryside there are areas around us that we should rightly be proud of. A good landscape makes us feel part of a community and gives a sense of pride in where we live.”
Helen Phillips, Natural England Chief Executive, was equally emphatic: “All landscapes are important. They form the link between human society and the natural world, and provide vital natural support services – such as food, clean water, climate change regulation, flood prevention and, of course recreation. All six shortlisted landscapes showcase what can be achieved when communities and partners come together to support the landscapes around them.”
Professor Keith Nicholson, a board member of Scottish Natural Heritage says, “We are really pleased to see the Dundee project win the Scottish heat of the award. This project has demonstrated real commitment to sustainable landscape in the local community. Looking after our landscapes is a responsibility shared by everyone. The Dundee project has embraced that responsibility wholeheartedly and we wish it every success in the finals.”
Project profiles: your guide to the UKLA shortlist
Full details of all schemes are available at:uklandscapeaward.org/results
| The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) has called on the Irish Government to make job retention and development a primary goal of its four-year budgetary policy. Speaking at the publication of the federation's pre-Budget submission, the Director-General Tom Parlon said: "The Government’s fiscal consolidation targets for the next 4 years won’t be achieved without economic and employment growth. If this is to be achieved, the Government has to protect productive spending in the Budget. "The Capital Investment Programme is particularly crucial in this regard. Cutting capital investment again will only serve to further depress economic activity and as has been illustrated over the past two years, put more pressure on the Exchequer as a result of further unemployment. Cutting productive investment is a false economy." Mr Parlon continued: "There are a range of measures that the Minister can introduce, at no cost to the Exchequer, to help support the economy. A good example is stamp duty. Persisting with a high transaction tax when there are no transactions makes no sense, either from the economy’s or the Exchequer’s perspective." "Introducing a 0 per cent stamp duty rate may encourage more interest in commercial and residential property transactions and therefore generate additional incomes for the State," he added. |
The show has now seen a fall of 49.5% since its peak in 2003 (source ABC).
Confusingly, and quite worryingly - official Glee media partner - Hort Week, headlined their story 'Glee hails visitor uplift to 13,000'. I might be missing something (perhaps it's an industry code?) but Glee posted 14,617 in 2009 and only 13,050 in 2010 - a fall of just under 11%?
Hort Week will have to explain how it's come to its conclusion because I don't understand it.
Here's the audited* figures from 2003 to date.
2010* 13,050 (unaudited)
2009 14,617
2008 18,119
2007 22,202
2006 24,530
2005 25,157
2004 24,761
2003 25,886
The Hard Landscaping Show 2011, due to have been opened by journalist Matthew Wilson, has been cancelled after organisers failed to sell enough stand space to make the February 2011 event viable.
Event director, Stephen Callaghan, told DIY Week: "Trading conditions in the landscaping industry remain very tough," and went on, "Many of our major exhibitors are struggling to commit and this has been making it difficult for us to achieve our goal of significantly growing the show for 2011."
Callaghan is proposing that the Hard Landscaping Show will return in February 2012 and has intimated that the event may go to bi-annually.
by Phillip Voice.
More coverage:
Hort Week - Hard Landscaping show postponed until 2012 due to 'tough trading conditions'
The Landscaper Magazine - SHOW MOVES TO 2012
The Hard Landscaping Show website.
As a landscaping and gardening industry analyst, I've been appalled in recent years at the way the landscaping and horticulture industry has largely ignored the end user when organising trade events.
The emphasis has always seemed to have been on the product or services supplier's relationship with the ultimate buyer, and the practitioner - the guys and girls who use machinery and products, day in and day out - too often referred to as 'tyre kickers', are all but forgotten in the development and sales process.
It's time that practitioners' experience knowledge is fed back into development and fine tuning of equipment and machinery because they are the ones who get to know, warts and all, how a piece of equipment feels and responds handles or how a product works, during the course of their work.
The day has arrived whereby the practitioner, rightly, is becoming recognised as the driver of the landscape and garden industry - their opinion, views and advice should be ignored at peril.
Managers have had their time and not made a difference: how can someone who sits at a desk all day possibly know what machine to buy when they are not out in the fields and dealing with conditions underfoot? It's all well and good acting as a middleman and feeding information back to developers but as always, something will always get lost in translation.
Machinery, equipment, product developers and manufacturers should have the opportunity to talk directly with the practitioner: The Landscape Juice Network was the first ever landscape and horticulture professional trade network to bring together everyone from the landscaping and garden world and now we are close to launch of our brand new industry Trade Show called Creating Landscapes.
I guess it's a case, proverbially at least, of putting my money where my mouth is.
If you are a product, equipment, machinery or plant supplier, why not come over and participate in landscaping and gardening's specialist industry event?
I'm delighted to welcome Stephen Ingram to the Landscape Juice Network as part of the Creating Landscapes' team.
Stephen is an independent exhibition and event organiser having previously worked within the event market and have organised the likes of The Royal Smithfield Show, The CLA Game Fair, The National Amateur Gardening Show and The Royal Bath & West of England Show.
For further details, you can email Stephen directly at stephen@hale-events.com Keep an eye out for the official launch.
To frame a contemporary vision of what drives successful design, the Garden and Landscape Design Association (GLDA) have enlisted the genius of some of Europe’s most respect design professionals for a day of insight, opinion and debate.
As the design calendar event of the year places are already being snapped up. To secure your place at this exciting event you are encouraged to book early. For tickets and further information contact the GLDA office on: 01 2940092, info@glda.ie or via www.glda.ie.
This event is proudly supported by Bord Bia, Ireland’s Food Board.
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The hedge in your back garden may hold crucial information for scientists assessing the country's biodiversity as the latest 'citizen science' survey by the Open Air Laboratories Project (OPAL) gets under way.
The OPAL team is inviting members of the public to collect as much information as possible about the hedges in back gardens, parks and open spaces all over the country, particularly in urban locations.
'We know quite a lot about hedges in the countryside and how important they are, but how much biodiversity do they contain in cities?' said Jonathan Silvertown, head of the OPAL Biodiversity Observatory. 'They might be even more important in urban areas where natural habitats are more scarce.'
Hedges are already known to support a wide range of life, but the survey hopes to find out which hedges best support insects and small mammals. Participants select a three-metre stretch of hedge and record information about the appearance of the hedge, how many flowers, fruits and nuts it contains, which insects they find there and other evidence of animals using the hedge, such as holes and burrows.
Once results arrive, they are placed on an online map and the survey team rates each hedge according to its importance for wildlife, building up a picture of the state of hedgerows around the country.
The biodiversity survey is the fifth in a series of surveys carried out under the five-year OPAL project, set up in 2007 with a grant from the Big Lottery Fund. Other projects already under way that you can join in with include:
The National Biodiversity Data Centre has produced a knowledge gaps document 2020 Vision - Improving Ireland’s biodiversity knowledge base as one output from the recent Biodiversity Knowledge Quest event hosted by the Centre. The document provides a brief summary of the biodiversity knowledge gaps workshops and proposes a list of the key knowledge gaps that could be filled over the next 10 years. This document is a consultation document.
Interested parties are invited to make written submissions on the content of the document to info@biodiversityireland.ie. Submissions should be received by Friday 29 October 2010. Feedback is particularly sought on two questions; 1. Would filling of the key knowledge gaps listed in Table 1 make a significant contribution to expanding our knowledge base over the next 10 years? 2. Are there any gaps or errors in the tables presented in Appendix I? The document can be downloaded from http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/Knowledge-Gaps-Document-_for-consultation_.pdf
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".
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 | |||||
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | |
| Resource DEL | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 1.8 |
| Capital DEL | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| TOTAL DEL | 2.9 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 2.2 |
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%.
Reducing waste and bureaucracy:
Making efficiencies
In addition to the above, the Department will be adopting the following idea, suggested through the Spending Challenge process:
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.”
Compost Quality Assurance Scheme Tender
Source: rx3
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Rx3 published a request for tenders for a compost quality assurance scheme on 6th October 2010 on the e–tenders website. The closing date for the procurement process is 16th November 2010.
This proposal is being developed in accordance with the recommendations in the Market Development Programme for Waste Resources 2007 - 2011, which is sponsored by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
Further information and documentation relating to this notice is available on the eTenders Web Site athttp://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT175257
This is the new events platform at the Horti Fair, in hall 6 of the Amsterdam RAI. The official opening, the prize ceremony for the Horti Fair Innovation Award, product demonstrations, receptions, announcement of the prize-winners from the House of Quality, the first rounds of the Horti Business Game and the final round of Ranking the Grower will all be held here. The Horti Fair Stage can also be used by participants for theme-based and new products presentations. Interested? Then just send an e-mail to Horti Fair and we will contact you to discuss your options!
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Successful trade press preview
On 24 August eighteen participants in the Horti Fair held presentations for the international horticultural trade press of new products and services being introduced at the Horti Fair.

This trade press and new products preview was attended by eighteen horticultural journalists representing more than twenty trade publications /websites (incl. video) from Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Great Britain, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain and international titles. This extra service offered by the Horti Fair not only results in publicity and goodwill for the participants, but also generates interest in the Horti Fair. The preview was held at the Demokwekerij Westland. Wim van der Loo, the managing director of the Horti Fair, presented the exhibition concept for the Horti Fair 2010 to the trade press and also revealed a little about the plans for 2011 and thereafter.
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Your stand will then be included in the theme route, besides receiving an extra mention on the website, in the press file and in other Horti Fair publications. Registration is easy using your digital exhibitors manual. Some examples seen at the Horti Fair trade press preview are phalaenopsis and anthurium pot plants with longer shelf life, Fairtrade flower food, the low noise Euro Trolley that improves night-time distribution in the retail chain, watering precisely tailored to the plant and more economical and less harmful to the environment as a result, covering pots/containers to reduce the growth of moss and weeds so that less crop protection agents are needed, vertical crop protection, biological crop protection agents, energy saving through LED lighting.... there are just too many to mention!
So be part of the theme: it costs nothing, apart from the effort of registering with the manual. Any questions, or assistance needed? Just mail the Horti Fair and we will be delighted to help.
This calculator enables a company to estimate the carbon footprint of their business activities.
There are 2 main input headings
Report
A carbon dioxide equivalent figure in tonnes will be estimated from the inputted figures. The total carbon dioxide equivalent figures will give an estimate of your carbon footprint. If you wish you can input figures into any section of the calculator and obtain a CO2 figure for that particular parameter. You can also produce a full report by completing all the relevant sections and request a report for printing at the end.
Click on the link below to go to site:
NOTE: Calculations are based on SEI and DEFRA figures. Some co-efficients used in this calculator are approximate. They are designed to give an estimate of a business carbon footprint. An in depth analysis is required in order to measure a more precise footprint.
If you require information please contact:
Declan White, Environment & Green Technologies Dept., Enterprise Ireland.
Phone: 01 727 2480
Preview looks successfully ahead to Horti Fair 2010
Aalsmeer, 30 august 2010 - New products and services, doing concrete business and exchanging professional knowledge: that is what the coming Horti Fair is all about,’’ concluded international journalists during the trade press and new products preview for the Horti Fair 2010. Twenty participants presented a selection of their new products to give the representatives of the horticultural media an early look ahead to the international horticultural exhibition being held in Amsterdam from 12 to 15 October inclusive. Wim van der Loo, the managing director of the Horti Fair described the highlights of the coming show, like the Horti Fair Stage.
Journalists working for trade publications in the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Finland, Austria, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium and Great Britain, as well as for international titles - 23 of them in total - came along to the preview on 24 August. Demokwekerij Westland, the leading innovation centre in greenhouse horticulture, was the appropriate location for the preview, where one of the premieres was the introduction of the www.technicaltrials.nl website. Technical Trials (stand no. 04.0417) is one of the new pavilions at the Horti Fair and is based on an alliance of leading technical producers. The Central Station run by the participants is the pick-up point at the Horti Fair, where visitors to the show receive information from and about the 17 participating companies that can be visited during the Horti Fair. The Horti Fair Stage in hall 6 of the Amsterdam RAI exhibition complex is the new events platform.
Photo: The Horti Fair trade press preview attracted a large delegation of international horticultural journalists.
Innovation programme
The preview, which the Horti Fair organizes every year specially for the trade press, is part of the innovation programme of the exhibition. Managing director Wim van der Loo emphasized that the Horti Fair ,,is organized from, for and by horticulture. This enables us as a trade show to focus a lot of attention on innovation, quality improvement and the stimulation of the exchange of knowledge. Through the eight special exhibition pavilions, the twenty Breakfast Briefings under the auspices of Syntens, and the exhibition theme of 'Earning sustainably'. One of the other highlights again is the presentation of the Innovation Award’’. This prestigious award (in partnership with Reed Business) is separate from the preview, incidentally, because all new products at the fair that have been registered in time are eligible to compete for the Award.
New
Frans van Zaal Totaal Techniek in De Kwakel (stand no. 01.0118) is introducing a Submersion System at the Horti Fair 2010.This is a new way of supplying water, in which the pots hang in containers that are submerged from below. The system is integrated into the mobile internal transport system. Crea-Tech from Ter Aar has developed a delivery system in which a robot sorts, bunches and places flowers in an auction container at a work station. The products arrive in the rack according to colour, variety and date.
WPS Hortisystems in De Lier (stand no. 04.0417) is introducing Kit Internal Transport: container systems and conveyer belts in the form of assembly kits that enable growers to take their first steps towards automation less expensively by doing the installation themselves. Plant Handling Robots is a series of robotics for pot plants and other products.
Philips Lighting B.V. in Eindhoven (stand no. 04.0502) has developed the Greenpower LED interlighting module DR/B, a lighting system placed between plant rows to provide the crop with light and heat, resulting in savings on energy and increased production. The Master Greenpower Plus 1000W EL has been improved and gives 4% more growth light throughout its lifetime as a result.
In addition to various biological pest control agents like Macro-Mite, Citripar, Natufly, Capsanem and Aphipar-m, Koppert Biological Systems from Berkel and Rodenrijs (stand no. 04.0314) is also introducing the Distribug, a blower which the roller tables with pot plants move under and Rollerfix, which simplifies hanging up sticky ribbons (Rollertraps) in crops.
More possibilities
Vertical crop protection in the right dosage and at the right place, with biological agents such as Enzicur from Koppert and UV-C from Clean Light, and chemical crop protection: this can be done with the Klimrek Rail from Klimrek Producten BV in Pijnacker (stand no. 04.0128). The possibilities also include a longer raising period and (emergency) greenhouse roof repairs. Another new product is the corrosion-free heating system, the Klimrek Heat Buffer, which requires no expansion provision.
Hoogendoorn Growth Management from Vlaardingen (stand no. 04.0220) is showing three new products in the AVAG Market.Hoogendoorn Webinars make it possible for a number of people to follow training courses and demonstrations at the same time, online and interactively. iSii+Aquabalance is a set of scales for weighing substrate, which helps to adjust irrigation with precision to the needs of the plants. Also new is that the iSii+Remote Server Edition remote control from Hoogendoorn has now been made suitable for companies that use a server network with Thin Clients, WiFi or smartphones.
The HortiMax CropView from HortiMax in Pijnacker (stand no. 01.0517) makes it possible to monitor crop development in detail and make any necessary changes 24 hours a day, by means of a Nikon photographic system integrated into the climate computer. This can be done via the computer, in the greenhouse, but remotely as well. The zoom lens means that everything can be monitored in high resolution down to the most minor details. The first contracts will be concluded at the Horti Fair.
Attention grabber
The new HortiTop, developed in partnership with Slingerland Potgrond, is an attention grabber on the stand of Horticoop from Bleiswijk (stand no. 02.0102). It comprises Herbaedeck, a specially selected quality bark, HerbaedeckHechter, a biological gel that fixes the bark onto the pot and remains effective for 12 months, and a gel machine to apply the gel. This means labour savings, improved quality and better presentation.
Container Centralen Nederland from Hoofddorp (stand no. 03.0119) is presenting the new CC Euro Trolley for visitors to the Horti Fair. The trolley has been specially developed for retail outlets and is low noise due to its soft rubber suspension damping and the use of plastic shelves, for which old crates are reused. Two trays with pot plants fit onto the shelves of the roller containers and the deck also has two RFID tags for the purposes of registration and traceability.
Chrysal International BV in Naarden (stand no. 01.0441) is introducing a number of new products at the trade show in Amsterdam, including the world premiere of the Fairtrade Liquid Flower Food (with Max Havelaar certification mark) for roses and mixed bouquets. It is only permitted to attach the flower food to Fairtrade flowers. Also new are Chrysal Food Drops, a pack containing six portions that are sufficient to provide one year of care for orchids and green plants, and the improvedChrysal Clear Universal Powder Sachets that will give flowers and bouquets a vase life of more than seven days.
Introduction of partnership
BVB Substrates from De Lier (stand no. 02.0110) is announcing a partnership with Royal Philips Electronics for the purposes of research into the best combination of LED lighting and substrates. One new product is BVB Allure, a bark-free substrate for orchids using Gambit, which is a cork mixture with high structure stability. There are five different types. BVB Sublime for growing tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers is made of polyurethane using a new technology that has been developed in alliance with growers and can result in between 5 and 7% higher yield.
AVO Anthurium Vogels in Wateringen (stand no. 01.0446) is introducing Anthurium Andreanum AVO® Rosalie for pot cultivation; pot size 15-21 cm, and bears large red flowers (7-10 cm) with a green edge. AVO® Pink Christina is a new cut flower cultivar in a lasting dusty pink colour with a long plant life cycle for the consumer and high production for the grower. The company will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of its formation during the Horti Fair and will also be presenting its new house style.
Anthura B.V. from Bleiswijk (stand no. 01.0330) is introducing its Phalaenopsis (for pot cultivation) Anthura Luzern at the Horti Fair; new in Anthurium cut flower cultivation is the Bellanca®, as well as the Fire XL® and Zafira®. Matiz® and Piccolo® are being introduced in Anthurium pot cultivation. Also new is the concept of a ready-made solo Anthurium bouquet in a vase, which is being presented for the retail trade at the Horti Fair.
There proved to be great interest on the part of the journalists during the preview for the Horti Fair Career Plaza (stand no. 03.0302), the House of Technology & Innovation (stand no. 04.0226), House of Quality (stand nos. 01.0126, 01.0228, 05.0102 and 05.0202), House of Software (stand no. 01.0428), the Breeders' Market (stand no. 01.0440) and the Horti Business Game (stand no. 01.0121), as well as in the exhibition theme of 'Earning Sustainably'.
Extensive service for trade visitors
All new products at the Horti Fair can be identified by the special Horti Fair New logo on the stands, on the official exhibition floorplans and the new products route, as well as being shown in advance on the new website at www.hortifair.com.
An additional feature of the website at www.hortifair.com this year is a search and find function at product level and there is also a HortiVisit e-mail newsletter every Wednesday, specially for trade visitors (www.hortifair.com/hortivisit). Shuttles bring visitors safely, swiftly and comfortably to the Horti Fair from horticultural areas (www.hortifair.com/route). Admission costs € 40.00 at the ticket office, but is free of charge for trade visitors, who receive tickets from participants or online (www.hortifair.com/tickets). In 2010 the International Horti Fair is being held in the Amsterdam RAI from 12 to 15 October inclusive and is open every day from 10.00 to 19.00 hours. Take a look at www.hortifair.com for an up-to-the-minute impression of the most intensively visited trade event for professional horticulture.
To learn more click here - http://www.itb.ie/StudyatITB/bn419.html
Overview.
New Venture Development 1: Students are required to commence this module by shaping an idea for a product or for a provision of a service into a genuine opportunity and form teams that will see the idea through to completion. Students must identify new opportunities, critically evaluate existing or alternative products or services in the marketplace, carry‐out preliminary design including proof‐of‐concept and formulate a plan for completion. At the end of the module, students will be required to defend and promote their concept to a panel in the LINC.
Horticulture Project 1, Analysis & Design: In this module, students will undertake an individual horticulture project to support the new venture development efforts that includes: technical review, research, problem formulation and opportunity identification, scientific, regulatory and environmental standards, ethical implications and solution design. Project management, including planning, control and documentation, is critical to bringing together the students knowledge and skills from the wider course. As the project is a year‐long effort, this module represents the initial stages of the overall project that student must complete and contributes to the new venture development efforts.
Creativity, Innovation & Teamwork: This module provides students with an understanding of the role of creativity, innovation and teamwork in the entrepreneurial process and its ongoing role in enterprise. As well as practical exercises in creative problem solving, students will consider idea generation techniques, opportunities for value creation, business failure and networking. Students will complete a number of team assignments in unfamiliar environments, underscoring the importance of teaming and leadership in the entrepreneurial process.
Enterprise & Operations: This module will provide students with the skills necessary to develop a business from idea formation through the various stages of the business life‐cycle. Students will consider enterprise start‐up, enterprise supports, new venture management teams, research for operations setup, strategy development, quality management, supply chain, growth and sustainability.
Sales & Marketing: This module provide students with an in‐depth understanding and appreciation of sales and marketing theory and the practice necessary for business development as well as an ability to apply these concepts to the development of a marketing plan.
Elective Module: From: Horticultural Business Management ; Human Resources Management, Landscape Design 2, Golf Course Design 7 Management, advanced Plant Pathology, Plant Treatment Regulation, Advanced Soli Science and Chemistry, Diffusion of Innovation, Universal Design for Amenities, Genetics and plant Breeding, Environmental Indicators, Synthetic sport surfaces, Historical Parks & Gardens, Horticulture Therapy.
New Venture Development 2: This module is a ‘follow‐on’ from New venture Development 1. Student teams are required to gain considerable traction and progress their ideas further towards commercial reality. As part of this module, the students must complete detailed design and analysis, develop prototypes or simulations as a product or service demonstrator. In parallel, students must complete a business‐plan and support documentation to appropriate proofing points that would allow it to attract the necessary resources to make it happen.
Horticulture Project 2, Implementation: This module is a ‘follow‐on’ from Project 1. Project execution, solution implementation and application of the research hold greater emphasis in this part of the project. Demonstrating the bringing together of knowledge and skills from the wider course is achieved through a major written submission as a thesis, a presentation of the project to an expert panel and a practical demonstration of the creative solutions implemented. As the project is a year‐long effort, this module represents the final stages of the overall project and contributes to the new venture development efforts.
Aboriculture 2: This module enhances the student’s depth of understanding of the science of arboriculture. The student will integrate their knowledge of the plant physiology of trees with the ability to manage Ireland’s reserves of forest, woodland and urban trees. Student will learn to make decisions and work with stakeholders on the survival or otherwise of areas of the national tree stock drawing on elements of their scientific and technical expertise.
New Venture Finance: This module requires the student to explain the relationship between and interpret the balance sheet, profit and loss account and cash‐flow. Understand the key the techniques in managing working capital, know the appropriate sources of funding for a given investment proposal, prepare a basic set of financial projections for inclusion in a business plan, understand the linkages between marketing and production decisions and financial performance of the enterprise.
Legal, IP & Commercialisation: This module provides students with an in‐depth understanding and appreciation of the Irish legal system, the legal responsibilities and opportunities for those in business and how the law facilitates entrepreneurship. The module also explores the creation, capture and exploitation of intellectual property as well as contract law, tort, business forms and the sources of law.
Elective Module: From: Horticultural Business Management ; Human Resources, Landscape Design 2, Golf Course Design 7 Management, advanced Plant Pathology, Plant Treatment Regulation, Advanced Soli Science and Chemistry, Diffusion of Innovation, Universal Design for Amenities, Genetics and plant Breeding, Environmental Indicators, Synthetic Sport Surfaces, Historical Parks & Gardens, Horticulture Therapy.
To learn more click here - http://www.itb.ie/StudyatITB/bn419.html
We need to move to a system where the protection and enhancement of our green infrastructure is integrated into the planning process, according to Comhar SDC who today launched Creating Green Infrastructure for Ireland. This would require mapping of natural ecosystems to provide evidence of the value of biodiversity and ecosystems to the economy and society, it said.
"Development has been a major driver of habitat degradation and biodiversity loss in Ireland," said the report's editor, Dr. Cathy Maguire, Director of Research at Comhar SDC. "Biodiversity continues to decline because its value is not reflected in decision-making by business and government. While tools such as 'Strategic Environment Assessment' and 'Environmental Impact Assessment' have become part of our development process, they are essentially reactive measures.
“The introduction of a green infrastructure approach to planning policy would help to protect, create and manage green infrastructure in an integrated and proactive way. It would also enhance Ireland's biodiversity and improve resilience to climate change."
Comhar SDC describes 'green infrastructure' as "a network of green spaces that help conserve natural ecosystems and provide benefits to human populations through water purification, flood control, carbon capture, food production and recreation. Such spaces include woodlands, coastlines, flood plains, hedgerows, city parks and street trees."
Comhar cites the National Parks and Wildlife Services estimates that natural ecosystems contribute at least €2.6 billion to Ireland's economy each year, across a range of sectors, including agriculture, health and aquaculture.
Also speaking at today's launch, Professor Frank Convery, chairperson of Comhar SDC (pictured), said: "Green infrastructure that is operating at its peak and is well connected can makes cities, towns and rural areas better places in which to work. High-quality green infrastructure translates into higher property values and rents, and is also attractive to the high-value industries, entrepreneurs and workers now needed to underpin the knowledge economy.
"The health benefits of a green infrastructure are also numerous. Well-planned green spaces can act as important places to exercise, particularly in an urban centre. They also provide play areas for children and act as a recreational space for members of the local community. This offers positive benefits in terms of a community's physical and mental health."
Professor Convery said that the upcoming revision of the National Biodiversity Plan, as well as the National Adaptation Plan, offers an important opportunity to put green infrastructure on the agenda of all the agents involved in planning and infrastructure delivery. "Apart from national and local buy-in from our elected representatives, we need all of the key sectors - from agriculture to tourism and planners - to work together to realise the economic and social benefits of protecting our biodiversity," he added.
The report contains a range of recommendations to government on how green infrastructure can be developed in Ireland. These include the development of national guidance and objectives; the inclusion of green infrastructure in policy and legislation; green infrastructure maps, and measures to improve data availability and harmonisation.
"Comhar SDC has recommended a range of actions, including the development of national guidelines which set out how green infrastructure can be incorporated into the planning process," said Maguire. "We are urging policy makers to grasp the opportunities that green infrastructure approaches can offer in bringing benefits to the environment, economy and society. Integrating green infrastructure into our planning process would result in health and economic benefits, as well as protecting our biodiversity. It would offer a positive dimension to our planning process and minimise conflicts between environmental and economic goals."
"Green infrastructure mapping underpins the whole approach and, while there are data gaps and needs, a lot of useful information already exists at national and local levels," she continued. "This should be made available in a coordinated and accessible way for use in green infrastructure mapping."
Comhar Sustainable Development Council was established in 1999 as the forum for national consultation and dialogue on all issues relating to sustainable development.
Award Categories:
1. Best Organic Retail Product
2. Best Organic Local Product
3. Best Organic Export Product
4. Best Organic New Product
5. Best Organic Sustainable Product
6. Best Overall Organic Product
Award winners will be announced and presented at a lunch on Tuesday
the 14th of September in the Bord Bia Food Centre. Winners will be
invited and expected to attend.
The objective of the awards is to recognise the achievements and raise
the profile of Irish organic food and drink manufacturers and growers.
This year the awards have been reviewed and will be more inclusive of
organic producers from every sector, including horticulture growers.
The announcement of the awards will coincide with National Organic
Week and we hope to use the synergies to increase the profile of the
winners and the Irish organic food sector.
Important Dates for the National Organic Awards 2010:
Monday 23rd August: Deadline for receipt of application forms
Tuesday 14th September: Award winners announced.
Latest Company News, Trends, Courses, Products Services, Suppliers & Jobs in Horticulture & Fresh Produce, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers, Landscape, Architecture, Garden Centre, Florists, Sports Turf, Green Keeping & Forestry Sectors.
Interested in Horticulture? You might think that it’s just about gardening, but you’d be wrong! How about Sportsturf and Landscape Management, Floriculture or Social Horticulture?
Degree: BAgrSc (Horticulture, landscape and Sportsturf Management)
Direct entry CAO Code: DN048 or
Omnibus entry CAO code: DN010
Length of Programme: 4 years.
Required Subjects: Irish, English, Mathematics, one laboratory science subject, two other recognised subjects.
Introduction
Horticulture is the Art and Science of plant cultivation for human use. It is a topic that covers a vast and interesting range of subjects, including all of the sciences, plant protection (pests and diseases), environmental studies, business, management and communications, and of course growing plants. This degree offers a huge variety of career paths for those of you interested in working indoors or outdoors. With this degree you can choose the area you would like to concentrate on, pure horticulture or the management of plants in the landscape or the sportsturf industry. Sport and leisure has become very important in everyone’s lives. You could work and play at the same time with a career in the €750M sportsturf sector. By studying Sportsturf Managementyou could develop and maintain one of the 400 golf courses or thousands of tennis, football, rugby, bowling and other sports pitches in Ireland. If you like helping other people and you have felt the joy of sowing seeds and nurturing plants as they grow, you can combine these and study Social Horticulture. This area of horticulture studies the interaction between humans and plants and how you can use this knowledge to improve the lives of people. If food production is your interest or if you are concerned about globalisation and its impact on food supply, safety and quality then you can study Fresh Produce Production. Or if you are interested in growing plants then you can studyNursery, Garden Centre and Ornamental Plant Production. With the continuing dramatic increase in house building, road construction and other projects, the demand for plants, both for indoors and outdoor landscapes has exploded. If you are interested in an international career, using your French or Spanish language skills, then a career in Floriculture may be what you want? This sector produces and supplies flowers and pot plants valued at over €35M, which are sourced from all over the world, from countries such as Kenya, Israel, Bolivia, Columbia or South Africa. Find out what current a student thinks of the programme by clicking here.
Career Opportunities
All the above areas need highly trained individuals in management, technical advisory and consultation roles, research, quality assurance, sales and marketing positions, either working for the emerging large corporate companies active in this area or within your own business.
Programme Objectives
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As well as providing you with the principles, knowledge and skills directly related to the degree, it is also designed to help you develop your transferable skills, such as:
Programme Content
Year 1 is designed to ensure you have a good knowledge of the basic sciences. There is also an introduction to the horticulture programme.
Professional Work Experience (PWE)
This is an important element of your degree and gives you the opportunity to further develop your skills in a real life environment. Six months PWE is taken in your area of interest between the years 3 and 4 of your degree. There are opportunities to travel for your PWE or take a semester in another university through our exchange programme.
Transfers from Institutes of Technology
The Programme normally accepts a number of transferees from Institutes of Technology who have completed relevant Ordinary Degree Programmes. Details are available from the Programme Office, contact details below.
Further Information:
Email:
Website:
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where horticulture meets
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Event introduction
“It’s Show Time”
South Africa meets IrelandHorticulture & Fresh Produce News Ireland - www.HortiTrends.com
On a recent holiday to Europe, Alwyn Badenhorst, who is a Customer Relationship Manager with Neutrog South Africa, took some time to visit the new factory of Neutrog Ireland, and meet Niall Reynolds, Managing Director. Alwyn has been working for Neutrog for the past 3 years, and worked for a Neutrog distributor before that. Niall was delighted to hear about how Neutrog has grown in South Africa, and was amazed to hear that over 20,000 tonnes were produced there last year. Niall said “It’s great to speak to Alwyn about the progress in South Africa, and to learn how this was achieved. It’s very exciting to think that we could achieve similar results here over the next few years, and extremely valuable to learn from the experiences in both South Africa and Australia”. Alwyn commented on the similarities of the landscapes in Ireland and in the region in South Africa where he lives. He also said “I am very impressed with the new factory that Niall has set up here in Ireland, and I am extremely confident that Neutrog Ireland will be just as successful as our business in South Africa”. Niall hopes to visit Neutrog South Africa in the near future.
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| Name | Address | Core activity |
|---|---|---|
| Acting Head of Horticulture | ||
| Jim O'Mahony | Kildalton College, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny | Management |
| Mushroom Team | ||
| Gerry Walsh | Teagasc, Gorey, Co. Wexford | Advisory |
| Tom Kellegher | Teagasc, Monaghan | Advisory |
| Helen Grogan | Teagasc, Kinsealy, Dublin 17 | Research |
| Fruit Team | ||
| Eamonn Kehoe | Teagasc, Wexford | Advisory / Research |
| Dermot Callaghan | Kildalton College, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny | Advisory / Research |
| Nursery Stock Team | ||
| Jim Kelleher | Kildalton College, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny | Advisory |
| Matthew Lohan | ||
SCHEME OF INVESTMENT AID FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMERCIAL
HORTICULTURE SECTOR
Funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2007-2013
Terms and Conditions
3rd Round (2010)
General
This scheme is intended to assist in the development of the horticulture sector,
including beekeeping, by grant aiding capital investments in specialised plant
and equipment in commercial horticulture. The scheme aims to promote the
diversification of on-farm activities; improve the quality of products; facilitate
environmentally friendly practices and improve working conditions.
Under this scheme and subject to conditions 1-31 beneath, aid at a rate of 40%
(at a maximum rate of 50% in the case of young farmers) will be payable on the
accepted cost (excl VAT, discounts and allowances) of capital investments
approved and completed to the satisfaction of the Minister for Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food.
The scheme is primarily aimed at those in rural areas engaging in horticultural
production and/or beekeeping. Non-production investments, which are directly
associated with primary production, may also be considered.
As the funds available under the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development
of the Commercial Horticulture Sector are limited, investments will be in
competition for grant-aid. The funding is for investments completed not later
than 15th October 2010, unless otherwise agreed. Payment claims will be
accepted prior to this date.
Application forms may be obtained from Seamus O’Donnell/Bernadette Doran
at-
Crop Production and Safety Division,
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,
Administrative Building,
Backweston Campus,
Young’s Cross,
Celbridge,
Co. Kildare.
Ph…01 5058801 / 5058797
E-Mail Seamus.odonnell@agriculture.gov.ie
E-Mail Bernadette.doran@agriculture.gov.ie
Definitions
For the purpose of this scheme:-
“the Minister” shall mean the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
“the Department” shall mean the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and
Food.
“ horticulture” means that branch of agriculture that relates to the cultivation of
plants used for food or for the production of food or ornament, including the
technical procedures necessary for the cultivation, production and preparation for
market of -
(a) fruit,
(b) vegetables, (excluding potatoes and seed
potatoes),
(c) herbs,
(d) edible fungi,
(e) nuts,
(f) cut flowers
(g) decorative foliage
(h) hops
(i) sports turf,
(k) honey,
(l) pot plants, bedding plants and herbaceous plants
(m) nursery stock and Christmas trees),
(n) fruit trees, fruit bushes and fruit plants.
“investment” means an investment in a commercial horticultural enterprise.
CONDITIONS FOR GRANT AID UNDER THE SCHEME OF INVESTMENT
AID FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMERCIAL HORTICULTURE
SECTOR
SPECIFIC CONDITIONS
1. Applications
• Applications should be made on an official application form. Sections
1–11 of the application form should be completed by the applicant who
should then arrange to have Section 12 completed by Teagasc or an
approved Adviser.
• The required supporting documentation e.g. business plan, latest set of
accounts and up-to-date and fully descriptive quotations showing net
cost should accompany the application which must be returned to the
address as listed on page 2 not later than Friday 19th February 2010
All quotations submitted must be original and fully descriptive. They
should be in printed format and on company headed paper.
• Only fully completed applications with all supporting documentation
will be accepted by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and
Food. Incomplete applications will not be considered for grant aid.
• Applications may be submitted by individual applicants or on behalf of
groups and other legal entities. In cases of joint or group enterprises, one
person should be nominated to apply on behalf of the enterprise. In such
cases at least one member of the enterprise must meet the eligibility
requirements.
• Applicants must demonstrate that they have the necessary skill and
competence for the running of the business. In the case of group or joint
enterprises, at least one member of the enterprise will be required to
demonstrate that they have the necessary skill and competence.
2. Eligible investments
The scheme will be confined to new investments only.
Applicants must declare where any relationship exists between the applicant
and the quoting company / supplier. The nature of this relationship must be
declared fully on both application and claim for payment forms.
3. Commencement of Work
Work on a project must not commence until after the issue of letter of
approval by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food following
the receipt of the fully completed application, otherwise the application will be
rendered ineligible for consideration.
Items invoiced or delivered, purchased or payments made before issue of
approval letter by the Department, are not eligible for grant aid. Where work
commenced before the approval date, grant aid will not be paid.
The following preparatory measures will not be deemed to constitute
commencement of work and may be undertaken whenever appropriate:
Administrative procedures aimed at obtaining planning permission, planning
work specifically carried out by for instance, an architect, preparatory studies,
site clearance and fencing.
4. Viability
The horticultural enterprise must be shown to be viable on a commercial scale.
To enable viability to be assessed, investment proposals must be supported by a
satisfactory business plan covering a minimum of two years and the most recent
set of accounts. Applications must contain a comprehensive profile of the
current and proposed enterprises, outlets, employment etc. Each project will be
assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the business plan, the
latest set of accounts and the project profile submitted with the application.
5. Resale of approved equipment
Applicants will be required to keep in their ownership /possession, for a period
of 5 years, such items in respect of which grant aid has been paid.
These items must be used for horticultural purposes only.
All items grant aided must be held within the State.
6. Financing of approved items
Leasing agreements will be limited to a period of 4 years and hire purchase
agreements will not be allowed.
7. Proofs of Payment of relevant invoices
It will be a requirement for all applicants to submit proofs of payment that are
acceptable to the Minister. These proofs will consist of original bank
statements and copies of encashed cheques. Alternatively, on line bank
statements (only high quality colour printouts with bank logo) with copies of
encashed cheques will be acceptable or if payment is made by direct credit
transfer an original bank statement or on-line bank statement listing payments to
the supplier must be submitted.
Amounts listed on bank statements must be clearly linked to the relevant
item on which grant aid is claimed.
8. Scale of Investments
The minimum investment which will be considered for grant aid is €10,000,
except in the case of beekeeping for which a minimum investment of €2,000
will apply. The upper cumulative limit for investments per applicant over the
period of the scheme 2007-2013 is €5m. Aid for each investment will be
decided on the availability of funds and on the ongoing priorities for each sector
within the industry as well as the quality and scale of the proposals. In some
cases only part of an investment may be approved for aid.
9. Rate of Grant
Aid will be payable at the maximum rate of 40% (at a maximum rate of 50% in
the case of young farmers) on the accepted net cost of investments approved
and completed to the satisfaction of the Minister. The amount on which the
grant is calculated will, however, not exceed the actual net expenditure
incurred, (excl. VAT, discounts and allowances), and paid for by the applicant.
To qualify for the higher rate of grant aid on the basis of being a young farmer,
the applicant will have to be under 35 years of age on the date of receipt of a
valid application by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
Such applicant’s must submit an original birth certificate with their
application.
To qualify for payment of grant aid at the 50% rate an applicant will have
to be in a position to demonstrate, by the date of application for payment of
aid, that they are in control of financial management of the grant aided
enterprise.
7
In the case of applications made by people operating in partnership or
where more than one person has joint interest in the business the higher
rate of aid will only be payable where all parties are under 35 years on the
date of receipt of valid application.
A company or corporate body will not qualify for the higher rate.
10. Limitations
• Only new materials and/or new specialised horticultural plant/equipment
will be grant aided. Aid will not be paid for secondhand equipment,
materials or replacements, except in very exceptional circumstances to
be determined by the Minister.
• Aid will not be paid for repair and maintenance.
• No aid will be paid for projects which commence before issue of letter
of approval by the Department.
• In the case of investments for buildings, the applicant must show details
of ownership of the site or it’s long-term lease (5 years from 1st January
2010)
• Projects which aim to increase production for which no sales outlets can
be found will not be grant aided.
11. Aid from Other Sources
If any contribution towards the cost of approved works has been or may be
made from public funds, otherwise than under this scheme, the amount of aid
under the scheme may, where the Minister so determines, be reduced
accordingly.
Investment in mushroom enterprises which are eligible for consideration
for aid under the EU Producers Organisation Scheme will not be grant
aided under this Scheme
An applicant must notify the Department if Business Expansion Scheme
or Seed Capital Scheme investments have been raised and also declare the
amount raised. Where funds have been raised grant aid will be reduced
by 20% in the case of applicants in assisted areas and by 50% in non
assisted regions.
12 Competitiveness of Applications
Projects will be assessed for aid on a priority basis and the fact that a project is
aided does not create entitlement for similar projects in this or any future round
of the scheme. Priorities may change with time or circumstances.
13. Completion of Investments/ Deadline for submission of claim for payment
Approved investments must be completed and a claim for grant aid made within
the period stipulated by the Minister.
Fully completed claims for payment should be submitted as soon as
possible but must be received in the Department not later than
15th October 2010 unless otherwise agreed. Claims for payment
will be accepted prior to this date.
14. Legal Provisions, Consents, etc.
All applicants must undertake to comply with all National and EU Community
standards in respect of the investments approved under the scheme.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all works shall be carried out in
accordance with the provisions of all relevant statutes, regulations, byelaws and
duty of care.
The onus of obtaining all consents, permissions, etc. including planning
permission, consent to entry on, or interference with, land, other property or
right of any other persons, rests on the applicant.
It will be a requirement for an applicant, where as a producer in the food chain,
to register with this Department under EU Regulations, ie Regulation (EC) No
852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the hygiene of
foodstuffs.
Payment of grant aid is subject to compliance with statutory requirements in
relation to the pay and working conditions of employees.
Payment of grant aid by the Minister should not be taken as evidence of
compliance with the above legal provisions, consents, etc.
15. Contractors Tax Clearance Requirements
In conformity with general practice the payment of financial aid as provided for
in this scheme is subject to the condition that, where a contractor is employed to
carry out construction work, that contractor must have a current C2 certificate
or tax clearance certificate from the Revenue Commissioners.
In the case of a non-resident contractor a general tax clearance certificate will
be required. This provision applies whether or not the non-resident contractor
has a registered office in this country.
16. Payment of Tax by Applicant
In the case of grant awards in excess of €10,000 the applicant must submit a
current Tax Clearance Certificate. This certificate should be submitted as
soon as possible but not later than the date of application for payment of
grant aid.
General Conditions
17. Unsuccessful Projects
Where eligible projects have not been approved for grant aid and have not
commenced, applicants may re-apply for consideration in the next round of
applications under the scheme subject to terms and conditions of the scheme at
that time.
18. Information
Applicants must provide any information required by the Minister for the
administration, control, monitoring and evaluation of the scheme.
19. Justification for Granting Aid
Aid for investment will at all times be subject to the condition that, in the
opinion of the Minister the investment is justified. However, the approval for, or
payment of aid, does not imply any endorsement by the Minister of a project’s
safety, technical feasibility and/or economic viability.
20. Right of Entry
The Minister reserves the right to arrange for an inspection at all reasonable
times of any land, premises, plant, equipment and records of participants or
applicants for participation in this scheme.
The applicant or a person nominated by the applicant must make himself or
herself available to the Department Inspector in order to carry out the necessary
inspections.
21. Responsibility of Applicant
The approval or payment of aid under the scheme does not imply the acceptance
by the Minister of any responsibility as regards the stability of any structure, or
the soundness of any materials used or adequacy for its purposes of any
investment, which is the subject of such approval or payment. This is the
applicant’s responsibility in the first instance and the onus is on him/her to
comply with current requirements as regards Health and Safety.
The Minister may require certification of quality of work and design.
22. Protection of the Environment
To ensure protection of the environment, applicants:
• Must agree to farm in accordance with the criteria for Good Agricultural and
Environmental Condition (GAEC). They must also participate in the
appropriate Bord Bia Quality Programmes or recognised equivalent,
including the environment and hygiene standards set out therein.
• May be required to make investments or to carry out additional requirements
over and above that covered in their initial applications e.g. investment in
hygiene or pollution control. Such additional works will not be grant aided.
• May, without prejudice to paras. 17 & 19 be refused grant aid where the
Minister is of the opinion that the works proposed to be carried out would
cause damage to the environment – in particular to environmentally sensitive
areas or to a structure or area of historical or archaeological importance.
23. False Statements
Without prejudice to penalties applicable under national law, if, for the purposes
of obtaining aid under this scheme, a person knowingly makes a false statement
or withholds essential information, all or such portion of the aid given or to be
given as the Minister may determine shall be reimbursed or withheld. The
Minister reserves the right to exclude such a person from further participation in
the scheme for such a period as she/he shall determine.
24. Withdrawal of Aid
The Minister may withdraw approval of aid if the applicant fails to abide by the
conditions of the scheme. In such event all or such portion of aid given or to be
given shall be reimbursed or withheld as the Minister may determine.
25. Recovery of Aid
The Minister reserves the right to recover any grant aid paid where the
investment aided does not continue to be used for horticultural purposes for a
period of at least 5 years,
26. Review of Financial Aids
The Minister reserves the right to vary, where occasion so demands, the amount
of financial aid specified in the scheme subject at all times to the provision of
any relevant European Union legislation.
27. Procedures
The Minister shall lay down the procedures to be followed in the operation of
this scheme and reserves the right to alter these procedures from time to time.
28. Conditions of Approval
Every approval of development works and purchases under this scheme shall be
subject to all conditions laid down by the Minister being complied with in full
by the applicant.
29. Charges for Visits and Services
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food reserves the right to impose
a charge for visits made, and services provided, by its officials in connection
with the scheme.
30. Decision of the Minister
The decision of the Minister on any matter relating to this scheme or to any
works there under shall be final.
31. Additional Conditions
The Minister may at any time lay down additional conditions for the
implementation of this scheme.
'
Speaking at the official opening of the Virginia Agricultural Show in County Cavan on Saturday 31 July, Brendan Smith TD, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food again re-enforced the importance of the Food Harvest 2020report as the key to growing the value of the agri-food, fisheries and forestry sector by a third over the coming decade and increasing exports to €12 billion.
Underlying the priority with which the Government considers the report, the Minister said that he would be personally heading the implementation group to ensure that the ambitious targets in Food Harvest 2020 can be met in the shortest possible time. "I want to emphasise my personal commitment and that of the Government to the achievement of these ambitious but realisable growth targets" the Minister said. "For the dairy sector which is so central to the Virginia Show, this plan targets a 50% increase in output. This would enhance the value of primary output by €700 million, as well as downstream benefits in the form of increased dairy products values, export earnings and employment" the Minister added.
The Minister also complimented the high standard of Holstein/Friesian cows in the Baileys Champion cow competition, now in its 27th year. "The continued loyal sponsorship of both Baileys and Glanbia Ingredients, Virginia, has elevated this competition to one highly regarded by breeders around the country. It is one of Ireland's most prestigious dairy livestock events" he said, "and the kind of quality that is being rewarded here today represents the brightest future of an industry that has enormous potential for expansion and development".
The Minister also drew attention to the very positive brand image that Irish dairy products have worldwide, and the tremendous potential to capitalise on that image, particularly in Asian markets where economic expansion and increasing levels of disposable income were leading to increased demand for dairy and other food products.
"Irish food and beverage exports to Asian Markets were valued at €279 million in 2009," he said, "and there is tremendous potential for developing and expanding those markets, with consequent benefits for employment in Ireland. In that context, it is essential that Irish food business operators take a strategic approach to developing Asian markets. They can be assured that in doing so, they will have the full support of my Department and its agencies, which will continue to be pro-active in building the kind of relationships that are critical to doing business in those countries. The road map of development as set out in Food Harvest 2020 will be a crucial factor in this process".
Complimenting the decision of the organisers of the show to move it to a Saturday this year, Minister Smith noted that the show attracts exhibitors from every county in Ireland and from further a-field to compete in over 450 classes on the day. This show not only boasts some of Irelands finest livestock, but also has a wide selection of competitions for garden produce, home cooking, arts and crafts which attract a high standard of entry from competitors both young and old.
Minister Smith welcomed the generous local sponsorship provided by a host of loyal sponsors. The Minister also said "Virginia show has grown to become one of the largest shows in the country. This is due to the hard work of the local organising committee under the President Ned Duffy. The organisers have shown great initiative and enterprise again this year in the quality of the programme for the day".
In conclusion, Minister Smith took the opportunity of wishing the organizing committee, the exhibitors, the sponsors, the many visitors, and indeed everybody involved with the Virginia show an enjoyable day out.
Full round-up of all the latest major appointments and departures within the European fresh produce industry over the past month
Coop Trading's Svend Aage Kristensen, familiar to many in the trade as one of its most skilled and popular buyers, will retire at the end of August after a distinguished career spanning almost five decades, during which time he worked mostly as a fresh produce buyer for the Nordic consumer cooperatives.
Spanish interprofessional citrus body Intercitrus has electedJuan Vicente Safont as its new president at the group’s annual assembly in Valencia. Mr Safont, who is also president of leading Spanish fresh produce group Anecoop, replacesJorge García of Castellon-based exporter García Ballester.
Seald Sweet International’s chief financial officer Vitor Figueiredo will take over as managing director of Univeg’s Portuguese operations later this year, the group has said.
The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) has announced thatAdrian Barlow was elected to the position of vice-president of the FPC Council at the group’s recent annual general meeting. FPC president Jim Rogers has been re-elected for a further year. Dutch marketing group Fruit Vegetables Agency Holland has appointed Fred van Heyningen, CEO of Rabobank Westland, to its board. He will be responsible for strategic development and improving professionalism in the Dutch produce sector.Paolo Bruni, president of EU farming cooperatives association Copa, Italian marketing group CSO and Italian fresh produce group Apo Conerpo, has been accepted as a member of the Brotherhood of the Magnificent Onion.
The Oppenheimer Group has appointed long-standing company member Nolan Quinn to lead its berry category in the new role of berry category director.
4.4 Horticulture
The horticulture and potato sector contributed approximately €370 million to farm output in 2009. The sector makes an important economic contribution and generates significant ancillary employment in areas such as preparing, packing produce, distribution, retail, garden design & landscaping.
The domestic retail and food service markets are the most important markets for Irish fresh horticulture produce. However, mushrooms destined for the UK market represent a major export with a value in excess of €100million. Amenity products which comprise 20% of total production, are focused to a large extent on the domestic market. The main exports are Christmas trees, nursery stock & cut foliage.
The sector faces competitive pressures, particularly due to high input costs, notably energy, competitively priced imports, lack of scale and limited development in innovation.
Notwithstanding this, the sector has potential for further development. The food service market offers opportunities to replace imported product with home grown seasonal produce, to supply into the organic market and to diversify to meet ethnic food demands. Bord Bia’s recent review of the amenity sector identified the need to innovate, to develop new products and services and markets. It was considered that the best way to do this was through a coordinated approach where businesses, both large and small would combine resources to exploit new opportunities.
Horticulture has been transformed in the past decade by technological advances. Technology and advances in plant genetic research offer new products, new production methods and new approaches to the market. Maximising this potential requires a greater integration between state agencies, research institutes and industry. Existing development progammes and schemes should be looked at, and restructured, if necessary, to assist the commercialisation and adoption of new developments in horticultural technology, with the objective of facilitating and assisting entrepreneurs take advantage of the opportunities arising from emerging technology and the intellectual property associated with it.

Recommendations
As with all the sectoral analyses, the recommendations to realise the potential of the horticulture sector should be considered in tandem with the general farm and industry level recommendations set out in Section 3.
Restoring Competitiveness
DAFF should encourage greater participation in the development of producer organisations to facilitate greater bargaining power in the marketplace and to encourage the adoption of new technologies and best practice at sub-sectoral level.
The industry must continually adapt its production methods both to minimise environmental effects and to benefit from adopting green technologies
Relevant state agencies should foster product and production innovation, the adoption of emerging technologies and plant breeding.
Processors should invest in specialised plant and equipment to improve labour productivity, working conditions and the quality of output.
DAFF should review funding under the Horticultural NDP with a view to maximising the uptake of green technology, including water recycling, energy from waste and innovation based on plant production.
The relevant Departments should review existing programmes and supports in relation to the horticulture sector, and should identify any changes in legislation or in the scope and type of measures required to develop the industry and associated businesses.
Branding and Marketing Issues
DAFF and the relevant State agencies should further promote the health benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Bord Bia should identify opportunities in relation to new products, e.g. herbs, indoor fruit production, mini potatoes, ornamentals and develop consumer awareness of domestic varieties.
Bord Bia-led market research should explore the opportunities for production of non- traditional fruit and vegetables.
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD today announced details of innovation funding for small Irish companies in the food industry. Innovation Vouchers worth €5,000 each are available to all small companies in the food sector over the next 6 weeks. The deadline for applications is 20th August 2010.
Making the announcement Minister Smith said: "Innovation Vouchers are the push that many small Irish food companies need to explore how innovation can change their business for the better, be it through new product development or the improvement of existing processes".
"The success of the vouchers to date is due to the simplicity of the initiative. Participating companies get excellent value for money from the research teams working in the forty institutes providing their expertise and knowledge, both in Ireland and in Northern Ireland. I encourage small companies in the Irish food industry to see how a little knowledge can make a huge difference to your bottom line and to make an application for a €5,000 Innovation-Voucher today" he concluded.
Enterprise Ireland manage the Innovation Voucher initiative which offers small companies €5,000 to obtain an innovative solution to a technical or business challenge from a Higher Education Institute in Ireland or Northern Ireland, known as 'knowledge providers'.
Companies in the following sectors can apply:
Welcoming the announcement, the Minister for Science, Technology & Innovation Conor Lenihan T.D said: "The Innovation Vouchers initiative has been up and running since 2007 and through funding provided by the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Innovation has already helped over 1,000 small companies in Ireland to find a research partner who can solve some of their business challenges. The decision by my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to provide funding for a call for proposals dedicated to the food sector is most welcome".
You can apply for an Innovation Voucher and get more details on this Enterprise Ireland managed initiative onwww.innovationvouchers.ie or by contacting Pat O'Brien, Enterprise Ireland on +353 1 7272766.
ExCeL London 27th and 28th October 2010.

The number of exhibitors and visitors grew last year, despite the poor trading environment due to the world recession. Most importantly, both exhibitors and visitors found new and useful business contacts, which later developed into actual orders and trade.