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The Future Is Food

The food sector is the main driver of growth in the economy.

Simon Coveney quoting Michael Noonan.

It seemed that everyone started scribbling or typing when Simon Coveney, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, let us in on what his colleague, Michael Noonan, the Minister for Finance, had said at that morning’s cabinet meeting. For once, it appeared that the importance of our native Irish food industries was being recognised at the highest levels.

The Minister’s address closed out the first Bord Bia Taste Council Food Summer School. The event had been billed as the first national symposium on the current and future contribution of artisan and speciality food producers to the Irish economy and was held in the lovely surroundings of Brooklodge, Co. Wicklow last Tuesday.

The attendees were a veritable who’s-who of movers and shakers in the Irish food scene: from Ballymaloe’s legendary Darina and Myrtle Allen to Bridgestone Guide author John McKenna, from Georgina Campbell of the Ireland Guide to Margaret Jaffares of Good Food Ireland, from Kevin and Seamus Sheridan of Sheridan’s Cheesemongers to Pat Smith, general secretary of the Irish Farmer’s Association (IFA). There were butchers, bakers and fine food makers, and there was, as is only right and proper, plenty of that fine food to eat.

John McKenna Wicklow food

John McKenna poses with a bountiful array of local foods at the Food Summer School

The event comprised three panel-based discussion sessions covering issues relating to the traditional Irish farm, the role of education and marketing brand Ireland. Though each had their merits, it was probably the opening session on the Irish farm that provoked most comment, not least because we all knew deep down that, without our farms and farmers, we would have no food industry to speak of.

The trouble (or not, depending on your perspective) with Irish farms is that they tend to be small – the average farm size across the IFA‘s 89,000 members, for example, is only about 60 acres. While it is this very patchwork of family farms that may delight the visitor to the Irish countryside, economically, many of these farms are deemed unviable. Despite low farm incomes however, less than 5% of farms have diversified into other areas that could add value, such as cheesemaking or tourist-related activities, often because they lack the time and/or additional skills to do so.

You can either light a candle or curse the dark.

Denis Carroll of the Ring of Kerry Quality Lamb Group.

Dr. Aine Macken-Walsh of agriculture and food development authority Teagasc presented a model of ‘Middle Agriculture‘, which is based around developing a federated co-operative structure for these mid-sized farms, and which could help to provide a skills base and marketing network to facilitate small food businesses. An interesting development, certainly, but meanwhile, some farmers, like the Ring of Kerry Quality Lamb Group, are already doing it for themselves. A group of over 25 sheep farmers, they have partnered with local butchers in order to provide lamb directly to customers and provide a better return for themselves. It’s a model that can work.

Now, don’t you dare boil the hell out of it…

Darina Allen on introducing cookery students to the growers of their beetroot.

The education session was probably a little less conclusive. It was clear that there exists a certain lack of cohesion when it comes to educating the farmers, food producers and chefs of the future. No-one disagreed with the fact that we could do better – especially with the teaching of practical skills and crafts – but what exists in terms of education about food is less a coherent national strategy than a set of largely independent, if worthy, initiatives (such as SEED, for example, which aims to turn school gardens into living classrooms). Darina Allen, who chaired the session, was practical and commonsense as ever, and stressed the need to connect those who grow with those who cook – no real surprise from someone who runs a cookery school sited on a 100 acre organic farm, and of which it is an integral part.

Our food story needs to be told.

Simon Coveney, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Finally, the discussion moved on to the development of an umbrella brand for Irish food. Nobody in the room was in any doubt about the fact that we have food that’s worth shouting about, but Una Fitzgibbon from Bord Bia outlined some of the perceived negatives that we need to tackle when it comes to food exports. One such is an association in people’s minds of Irish food with British food, food which, whether merited or not, has a rather unenviable, stodgy reputation. Another is the perception that our adverse weather conditions must make it hard to farm, whereas our temperate, maritime climate – yes, the one that gives us all that rain – is the very reason for our green, green grass and the quality of dairy products and beef that results.

Forget about the term artisan, we’re just doing with food what should be done with it.

David Tiernan, producer of Glebe Brethan cheese

Negative perceptions aside, however, the outlook for Irish food is hugely positive. Whether you refer to them as artisans, food producers or people who are simply trying to make a living off the land, the truth is that ours is a story of remarkable people and their remarkable food. We just need to get on with the telling of it.

Marquee

The table is laid at Brooklodge for the Summer School
attendees - nothing left to do but eat...

Food at Brooklodge

Smoked wild salmon, local Wicklow cures of lamb, pork and venison,
goat's cheese tart topped with elderflower jelly, fresh oysters and smoked oyster pâté:
just some of the delights to start with

Food at Brooklodge

Locally reared meats, crab claws stir-fried to order,
chutneys galore and rhubarb panna cottas for the sweet-toothed

9 Comments

  1. Kristin

    I’m gutted to have missed this – have you ever seen such a beautiful spread of food? And the talks all sound so inspirational and thought provoking. Thanks for sharing this recap.

  2. Daily Spud

    Hey Kristin, sorry you couldn’t make it – it was definitely an interesting and, at times, inspirational day. As for the food, Brooklodge put on an absolutely gobsmacking spread – the pictures don’t show the half of it! I was only sorry that I had to leave early & alas didn’t get anywhere near the desserts…

  3. deana

    I was wowed by Irish food last year when we were served a banquet of it in Oxford by a Dublin restauranteur. He was rightly proud… it was all superb. I still dream of the Irish whiskey smoked salmon…. your pictures do a justice to the beautiful food!

  4. Daily Spud

    Oh wow, Deana, you were at that banquet? I wasn’t there but I heard all about it from Pádraic, the restaurateur in question. I even blogged about that Irish whiskey smoked salmon – I tried it myself on Pádraic’s recommendation and it is indeed worth dreaming about.

  5. Boulder Locavore

    Beautiful! You know I am unsure that the rest of the world realizes the bounty you have in Ireland. It’s a bit like the Pacific Northwest here in the U.S. Wonderful seafood, livestock, produce. It’s certainly a great place to a be a locavore. Love the first photo. It says it all!

  6. Móna Wise

    Woah. Your photos tell a beautiful story for sure – but your words make me feel like I attended and took copious notes. Sounds like it was a very interesting event and it is comforting to know that there is a growing body of people out there promoting ‘real’ Irish food and finally, finally, finally accepting the weather for what it is. An excellent ‘growers’ opportunity.
    Lovely read on a Saturday afternoon…….

  7. Daily Spud

    Boulder Locavore: I guess part of what the event was about was exactly that – how do we get the message out there about Irish food. I think people are starting to take notice and long may that continue.

    Móna: Aw thank you – there was such a lot to take in, I wasn’t sure I could do it justice in a single post! And you’re absolutely right on the weather front – I need to remember that one myself next time I feel the urge to complain about the rain :)

  8. Lisa

    I absolutely love that photo of Mr. McKenna at the top of the post. It really makes me happy to see all that lovely food and his face shining through.

  9. Daily Spud

    I know Lisa! It’s a lovely sight and makes me happy too :)

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