Tag: Food Harvest 2020

The Environmental Pillar welcomes the opportunity to input into this process. We were disappointed to see the FoodWise2025 strategy “launched” by such senior figures as Minister Coveney and the Taoiseach when the public consultation phase had yet to take place. We would note that FW2025 is an extension of the FoodHarvest2020 strategy. We welcome that […]

The Environmental Pillar welcomes the decision of the Minister Simon Coveney to make the new agri-food strategy a government initiative rather than an industry led plan. The Environmental Pillar, which represents 28 national environmental NGOs, welcomes the announcement of a committee to prepare the new strategy and the tendering of an environmental analysis of the […]

9 October 2013: The Environmental Pillar reacts with dismay to the news that Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2012 increased by 1% from 2011, as evidenced by today’s report from the EPA. We call on the government to deliver a strong Climate Change Bill with binding targets, and to re-evaluate the sustainability of Food Harvest […]

16 September 2013: The Environmental Pillar, a coalition of 26 national environmental groups, is casting serious doubts on the findings of a report commissioned by the Minister for Agriculture on the environmental impacts of Food Harvest 2020. The Environmental Pillar is calling for a commitment from government to re-assess its Food Harvest 2020 policy which […]

10 July 2013: The Environmental Pillar is strongly critical of Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney bringing forward the mowing date for the traditional hay meadow option within the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS). AEOS pays farmers to delay mowing of traditionally managed hay meadows until 15 July to allow the diversity of plant species to set seed, […]

Click here to download the Environmental Pillar’s Policy Statement on Genetically Modified Crops in Ireland March 2013 (Posted on March 4, 2013) 4 March 2013: The Environmental Pillar, a coalition of 26 national environmental groups, today called upon the Government to place a 5-year moratorium on the growing of any genetically modified (GM) crops in […]

Pillar report highlights “illegal and irresponsible” planning 7th July 2012 – Dublin. Environmental experts have said the development and implementation of the Government Food Harvest 2020 policy would be  “illegal and irresponsible” if it was carried out without a serious look at how it impacts on the long-term well-being of the country. The warning was […]

Download report: Environmental-Pillar-Submission-on-the-Analysis-of-the-Environmental-Impacts-of-FH2020(Posted on July 6, 2012) Summary Food Harvest 2020, as a Government Strategic Policy Document should have been subjected to a screening under Article 6 of the Habitats Directive. This would have inevitably resulted in the need to conduct a number of Appropriate Assessments (AA). During the development of Food Harvest 2020, as […]

Pillar report highlights “illegal and irresponsible” planning 7th July 2012 – Dublin. Environmental experts have said the development and implementation of the Government Food Harvest 2020 policy would be  “illegal and irresponsible” if it was carried out without a serious look at how it impacts on the long-term well-being of the country. The warning was […]