Tuesday 19th June 2023: The ACA has appointed Julian Pawlowski as their second ACA Organic Specialist. Following an internal application and selection process, Mr. Pawlowski will support the ACA in the implementation of their organic programme for the remainder of the year. He joins the existing ACA Organic Specialist Mary Lynch to assist the ACA network.
Mr. Pawlowski, an Agricultural and Environmental graduate from UCD and current ACA member, is the Certification Manager with the Organic Trust and was a reviewer to the new organic bodies’ specifications. He facilitates an Organic Programme in UCD in conjunction with the undergraduate organic module. He represents the Organic Trust on the DAFM Organic Forum.
Speaking on his appointment, Noel Feeney ACA President said Julian has significant experience in organics and we are very pleased that he will be supporting ACA members (along with Mary Lynch) to provide them with the knowledge and information to discuss organics with their farmer clients’. He added ‘It is estimated that 70% of the new organic farmer applications at the December 2022 deadline came from within our network, so it is critically important that these farmers are supported to ensure they meet their obligations in organics’. Mr. Feeney stated ‘We have a significant programme of events in 2023 including ACA local farmer organic advisory events, internal ACA member training, 4 regional events and our National Organic Event in September. Julian and Mary will work with ACA management in the implementation of the programme objectives and I would like to sincerely thank Minister Pippa Hackett and her officials for supporting our programme’.
Minister of State for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Pippa Hackett said’ I would like to congratulate Julian on his appointment as an organic specialist with the ACA, and I wish him the very best in the new role. Julian’s appointment is a real indicator of the ACA’s growing support for organic farmers. Organics is a key part of Mission 1 of Food Vision our agri food strategy “A Climate Smart, Environmentally Sustainable Agri-Food Sector”, and the ACA’s support will help us to meet our ambitious Climate Action Plan targets of increasing the area of land farmed organically in Ireland to 10% by 2030. Minister Hackett concluded by adding ‘There is huge interest among farmers in switching to organics, and I would encourage any farmer thinking about converting to consult with their advisor to find out more about what the switch entails and how it would suit their farming system’.
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About ACA
The ACA is the sole representative body for private agricultural consultants and advisors in Ireland and is the largest provider of farm advisory services to farmers in Ireland. Currently, the ACA have over 170 member offices which employ around 280 Agricultural and Environmental professionals, as well as 200 people employed as administration and technical staff. Its members support over 55,000 Irish farmers across the country.
Contact us:
Website: www.aca.ie
Email: Breian Carroll, ACA General Secretary breiancarroll@aca.ie
