The Clare-based General Secretary of the ICSA says policy needs to be put in place to ensure against over-dependence on countries outside of the EU for fuel.
Eddie Punch was one of a number of farming representatives who met with the Minister for Agriculture and Department officials last evening to discuss food security.
Minister Charlie McConalogue has asked all farmers to devote part of their work to growing crops, as the war in Ukraine is expected to lead to shortages in grains.
Weekend reports suggested that compulsory tillage could be on the cards but it turned out that wasn’t on the agenda at last night’s meeting.
There was a discussion about whether we can grow more crops in Ireland, as part of a bigger conversation about ensuring food security for Europe in the short, medium and long term.
The Cratloe-based General Secretary of the ICSA has described this as “timely” saying there’s been a lot of frustration in farming circles over last number of years.
Eddie Punch believes food security was “almost an afterthought” when it came to common agricultural policy, with a focus seemingly on on reducing production or on objectives other than producing food.
He says the reality is that Europe as a whole has to looks at ensuring we’re not vulnerable to energy supply shocks and that there should be a concerted efforts of getting farmers into renewable energy as well as food.
Eddie Punch thinks Europe must look at ensuring we’re not vulnerable to energy supply shocks and that there should be a concerted efforts of getting farmers into renewable energy as well as food.
