Sustainable Farm Initiative Launched at Irish College
IRELAND – A new farm initiative will cement Ireland’s place in the field of sustainable farming, Ireland’s agriculture minister announced at an official launch on Friday.
25 November 2014
1 minute read
The Kildalton Open Source Sustainable Farm Initiative will run as part of Kildalton College, Ireland’s largest agricultural school in County Kilkenny in the Suir Valley.
Success will be measured across four “key pillars”; resource use efficiency, land management, animal welfare and health and safety.
Economic sustainability will underpin each pillar.
Farm management will be overseen by Ireland’s national agriculture research, training and advisory service Teagasc and Ireland’s biggest dairy processor, Glanbia Ingredients.
Teagasc Director Professor Gerry Boyle said: “Irish agriculture is demonstrating its environmental sustainability.
“The Kildalton Open Source farm, with support from Glanbia Ingredients Ireland, will showcase best practices in producing food in a sustainable way, not just to the next generation of farmers but also to the consumers of Irish food products both at home and on international markets.”
Speaking at the launch, agriculture minister Simon Coveney underlined the partnership between Glanbia and Teagasc.
Glanbia Ingredients chief executive officer, Jim Bergin said: “Sustainable principles are at the heart of what makes us different on the global dairy stage and it’s a strategic imperative for us to drive future development and growth in this area.
“Through this new partnership with Teagasc we are confident that we can bring real learnings and efficiencies from sustainable farming thus ensuring it is relevant to our farmer suppliers”.
TheCattleSite News Desk
