Bugler attends special rural conference

Ballina councillor Phyll Bugler attended a special conference on agriculture, rural development, and stronger and safer communities, at Maynooth, Co Kildare.

This conference included the following topics: EU and Food Security, Thriving Rural Ireland, and Farming and the Next Generation.

“It is very important to increase food production and to ensure that is it sustainable,” stated Cllr Bugler.

“There are great opportunities for Irish agri-food in the Southeast Asian market. The corner stone of Food Vision 2030 is to grow the value of Irish agri-food exports to €21 billion. Developing new markets helps diversify the farming sector and ensures that food companies can get farmers' produce, produced all around Ireland to the highest standards,” stated Cllr Bugler.

“Other topics of interest discussed were the following: threat of nitrates derogation/water quality, minimising fertiliser use, habitats on farms, planting tiny woodlands, threat of ash die-back, raw sewage entering waterways, the urgent need for wastewater treatment plants to be upgraded, food security and, as Ireland is considered second in the world in terms of being a food secure nation,” stated Cllr Bugler.