Besides being one of the first countries to put a tax on plastic shopping bags (effectively eliminating their use), Ireland is also an excellent model of sustainable food production. This tiny island focuses on producing enough food for its own use, instead of for export like America. Rather than subsidizing huge corporate farms that pollute the environment, rely heavily on pesticides and herbicides, and destroy biodiversity in order to make more profits, Ireland’s government actively supports small family-owned farms. In fact, nearly all of the farms in Ireland are family owned. Family owned farms generally mean better labor conditions, better environmental conditions and better cultural preservation. By concentrating on feeding its own, Ireland has developed some of the world’s best agricultural and environmental policies.
Ireland’s farms still rely on pesticides and herbicides, but the organic farming movement is steadily gaining popularity and power throughout Ireland and most of Europe. In fact, almost 25% of agricultural practices in Europe are organic compared to 6% in North America. Consumer pressure for safe and healthy has this percentage rising annually. Additionally, an estimated 320 businesses produce artisan and specialty food in Ireland. Together these producers have a joint turnover of €450 million – a significant contribution to GDP. And, according to Slow Food Ireland, local food production is a huge part of tourism.
Enviro Girl loves beer, so she was happy to learn that Guinness (her favorite!) comes from a plant that uses its own Combined Head Power unit to generate power for the St James’s Gate facility. The St. James’s Brewery is committed to minimizing and recycling waste in all of its Irish operations and becoming innovative in their use of energy resources. They use pale spent grain as animal feed and black spent grain as a peat moss substitute. The St James’s Gate Dublin brewery has an on site materials recycling facility, meaning zero landfill.
Pour yourself a pint of “Green” beer (and this does not mean a Bud Light dyed green–choose a delicious and good-for-you Irish stout or ale) and raise your glass to a green country committed to becoming even greener this St. Patrick’s Day!
