TEAGASC ezine / 06 RHI-RENEWABLE HEAT INCENTIVE AND HORTICULTURE? As part of Ireland’s strategy to meet its obligations under the 2009 Renewable Energy Directive, the government has targeted the delivery of 12% of final heating demand from renewable sources by 2020, a target which is unlikely to be met. A public consultation period on the design and implementation of a renewable heat incentive (RHI) in Ireland was launched in late January. Teagasc Horticulture Development Department has been facilitating impacted horticulture sub-sectors to understand how the future shape of a scheme might impact their sector. Recent meetings and consultations with the mushroom sector and the protected crops sector have resulted in detailed
submissions around the grandfathering clause, boiler sizing, energy efficiency criteria and fuel standards to be made. The RHI in effect means that generators of renewable heat for non-domestic buildings can be paid per kWhr for hot water and heat which they generate and use themselves. The RHI tariff will depend on which renewable heat systems are used and the scale of generation. The annual subsidy which has not been set yet is proposed to last for 15 years. As such, users may be incentivised to spend money on changing to a renewable heat source and earn enough money from the tariffs to pay off their installation over a reasonable period of time. .✽
‘CLERY’ - THE LATEST STRAWBERRY VARIETY This year the strawberry season will start about two weeks earlier, because of the introduction of the new June-bearing strawberry cultivar ‘Clery’. Two weeks is a long time in the early strawberry market. ‘Clery’ not only boasts a high yield and long picking season but is also a very high class one fruit quality. The fruit is large and firm, which allows for much faster harvesting and greater savings on labour costs. The cultivar itself is Italian and comes from the breeding programme of CIV (Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti). ✽ THE LARGE,BRIGHT RED, VERY FIRM AND CONICAL SHAPE OF ‘CLERY’ STRAWBERRIES
FOOD SAFETY The FSAI has published new guidance to assist growers with the safe production of fresh produce (i.e. fruit, vegetables, mushrooms, herbs etc) on farms. The guidance outlines the potential risks associated with fresh produce and provides practical advice to growers to reduce these risks and improve food safety. The guidance was developed in conjunction with growers, processors, retailers as well as representatives of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Teagasc, Bord Bia, the EPA and the IFA. The new guidance document and its accompanying
simplified leaflet can be found at www.fsai.ie. Those producing fresh produce for sale must be registered as a grower with the DAFM in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 852 of 2004 on food hygiene. Application forms at www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmingsectors/horticulture/ foodproducerregistrationformsandinformation. Teagasc has organised a food safety seminar at its Ashtown premises on 14 March to develop understanding of producer requirements. Horticultural producers and their staff are welcome. More information on www.teagasc.ie/horticulture ✽
HELEN GROGAN, JIM COSTELLO, ANDY WHELTON AND OTHER MEMBERS AT THE FIRST MEETING OF THE NEW LEAVES PROJECT TEAM AND STEERING GROUP AT TEAGASC ASHTOWN.
ALTERNATIVE CROPS FOR CUT FOLIAGE SECTOR Teagasc researcher Helen Grogan was recently awarded funding of €0.5m by DAFM for innovative research to support the cut foliage and nursery stock sectors
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over four years. The project is entitled ‘New Leaves - alternative crops for the cut foliage sector’ and will identify novel foliage plant lines in response to growing demand for high quality products from export and home markets. Various propagation technologies will be
HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticulture.ie / Spring 2017
explored to produce interesting lines of Eucalyptus spp, Pittosporum, Viburnum spp, Pittosporum spp. Ozothamnus spp, and Brachyglottis spp. On completion of the project, stocks of elite ‘mother plants’ will be available for propagation under licence by cut foliage growers or specialist plant nurseries. Practical advice will be available to help growers deal responsibly with pest and disease problems that reduce their profitability. To support this research, a contract horticultural technician post (ref CT/ ASH/0217) and a post-doctoral research Fellow level 1- horticultural biotechnology post (ref PD1/ASH/0217) are advertised on the Teagasc website at www.teagasc.ie/careers and www.teagasc.ie/about/opportunities/ post-doctoral-opportunities. ✽
