INTERVIEW / 05
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BARRY LUPTION INTERVIEWS PIPPA HACKETT
DECISION TIME “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times… it was the spring of hope and the winter of despair.” Dickens' words from The Tale of Two Cities, beautifully captures this paradoxical time for Irish horticulture. The rise in gardening culture, interest in the environment, and an increasing knowledge of the benefits of contact with nature have driven huge growth in the horticulture sector, then there is the pandemic. The global crisis forced people out of shops and pubs and into gardens, parks and landscapes. The restrictions have been good for horticulture. They’ve driven up plant sales, increased the level of garden investment and highlighted the importance of quality green space. But then there’s the catch: Brexit, supply chain issues, access to labour, a skills shortage and of course, the cessation of peat production are casting a shadow on what should be the best of times for Irish horticulture. And decisions taken now will facilitate the sector rising above the clouds or see it stuck in the mire. Pippa Hackett, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Horticulture is charged with making the right decisions. Her actions will have significant consequences and the sector is watching closely. I caught up with the Minister recently to gain insight into her plans.
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HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticultureconnected.ie / Summer 2021
