Origin Green Sustainability Charter

Origin Green Sustainability Charter

The Origin Green Sustainability Charter developed by Bord Bia is an ongoing voluntary programme that seeks to demonstrate the commitment of Irish food and drink manufacturers, both large and small, to operate in the most sustainable manner possible. It offers a structure that allows individual companies to communicate key sustainability issues, set targets and regularly report progress in achieving short, medium and long term goals.

Read more: Origin Green Sustainability Charter

Organisation Warns of Fall in Planting of New Forests in Ireland

THE IRISH FORESTRY and Forest Products Association (IFFPA) has warned of the potential impact the continuing decline in the planting of new forests will have on the industry. In its annual review published today the association, which is part of the Irish Business and Employer Confederation (IBEC), says that it has “repositioned” itself as a major exporter.

Read more: Organisation Warns of Fall in Planting of New Forests in Ireland

A Strategic Research Agenda for the Forest-Based Sector

In 2006 over 700 proposals were condensed into a Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) for the Forest-based Sector Technology Platform (FTP). The SRA was based on proposals from across Europe, encompassing the full range of complexity and variety the sector represents, from paper to packaging, from building with wood to bio-energy from wood, from trees to new trends.

Read more: A Strategic Research Agenda for the Forest-Based Sector

The 'MushroomPro' Mobile Processing Unit at Horticulture 2012

The MushroomPro Mobile Processing Unit promises to be the next revolution in mushroom harvesting. It is designed to speed up picking rates, reduce staff, accurately sort the mushrooms and weigh the punnets. It will increase crop yields by its accurate stock trimming in the range of 7-12%, and this, along with the reduction in handling, improves product quality.

Read more: The 'MushroomPro' Mobile Processing Unit at Horticulture 2012

Export Sales and Jobs Potential in Cut Foliage Enterprise

The market for cut foliage, which is often referred to as the ‘filler’ in flower bouquets and arrangements and is harvested from a wide range of ornamental trees and shrubs, is currently worth €500 million in the EU. The prospects for continuing expansion of the small Irish industry, which is currently worth €3.5 million per annum in export sales, are very promising.

Read more: Export Sales and Jobs Potential in Cut Foliage Enterprise

Origin Green Participating Companies

List of Registered Companies

• ABP Food Group
• Aran Gourmet Foods Ltd.
• Boortmalt
• Carbery
• Carrigaline Farmhouse Cheese
• Clanawley Kilmore Ireland

Read more: Origin Green Participating Companies

"Irish" Potato Chain Proves Popular in Asia

Singapore is getting ready for its first taste of "Ireland's Potato" - a potato based food franchise that originated in non Celtic Hong Kong. The so called "Irish" experience is already familiar to on street diners there as well as in Taiwan and Malaysia, though not in the Emerald Isle itself. The franchise's slogan is: "Ireland's proverb - there are two things in the world that can't be joked about. One is marriage - two is potato."

Read more: "Irish" Potato Chain Proves Popular in Asia

New Directive on Late Payments in Commercial Transactions

The new directive on combating late payments in commercial transactions (the “Directive”) was published on 16 February 2011. It is due to be transposed into Irish law prior to 16 March 2013. The Directive was adopted in an effort to develop a business environment supportive of timely payments in commercial transactions and to improve the liquidity of small and medium enterprises in the European Union.

Read more: New Directive on Late Payments in Commercial Transactions

Horticulture 2012 Latest News

{jcomments off}>HortiTrends.com - We are Launching a New Jobs Website for Horticulture at the Show.
>J.F McKenna Ltd "The complete Range of Horticulture Products. Pots-Trays-Fertilizers-Polytunnels and much more.".
>Tennelly Products New Auto Vent Systems Specially for Poly tunnel or Convert for Side Screen for Glasshouses. read more
>Agnew Engineering Ltd Launches New Range of Boot Cleaning Products for the Agriculture Community Stand. read more
> Johnston Gilpin & Co Ltd, Are Pleased To Announce New Wiedenmann Dealership . read more
> Kilwaughter Acquire G-Lime from Acheson & Glover. read more
> Orchard County Enterprises Ltd Launches New Wheelbarrow Range at Horticulture 2012. read more

Read more: Horticulture 2012 Latest News

Architecture Expo Begins this Sunday at the RDS 23rd - 25th September 2012

Architecture Expo is the exciting new construction industry showcase devised specifically to service the ever-changing needs of the business. Its unique format will bring suppliers and specifiers together to share in an interactive programme of events comprising innovative product displays, CPD-rates seminars, architectural awards and product awards.

Read more: Architecture Expo Begins this Sunday at the RDS 23rd - 25th September 2012

FRA: Irish Forest Deal Shows Oversear Timberland Invetment Market is "Healthy"

The news that an Australian investor has bought a large piece of forested land in Ireland as an investment has been cited by FRA as evidence that the forestry investment industry is still proving strong. Bainbridge Island, WA, Septemeber 06, 2012 - The news that an Australian investor has bought a large piece of forested land in Ireland as an investment has been cited by Forestry Research Associates (FRA) as evidence that the forestry investment industry is still proving strong.

Read more: FRA: Irish Forest Deal Shows Oversear Timberland Invetment Market is "Healthy"

Irish Economy: Exports by Irish Forestry Sector Valued at €286m in 2011

Irish Economy: The Irish Forestry and Forest Products Association (IFFPA), a branch of IBEC, today published its 2012 Annual Review. The report claims that in 2010, the sector was worth €2.2bn to the Irish economy. In 2011, 77% of the forest products which were manufactured in Ireland were exported. These exports were worth €286m.

Read more: Irish Economy: Exports by Irish Forestry Sector Valued at €286m in 2011

Colour your Life Newsletter

It isn't over yet!...

Summer doesn't officially draw to a close until 23rd September the Autumn Equinox but the Summer this year has been so changeable that it hardly feels as if the woolies have been put away before it is time to get them out again! Without doubt a disappointing summer from a sales point of view, it's a difficult business when sales are governed by the vagaries of the Great British Weather - not reliable at the best of times!

Read more: Colour your Life Newsletter

The Development of the Cut Foliage Sector through Innovation & Marketing

World wide demand for cut foliage is increasing in developed countries and prospects for continuing expansion of the small Irish industry for export markets are extremely good. Vast quantities are required for the much larger flower markets of the UK and European mainland, particularly for peak periods like Christmas and Valentines Day.

Read more: The Development of the Cut Foliage Sector through Innovation & Marketing

Closing Date for Bloom 2013 Garden Design Application

Bord Bia has announced that the Bloom, Ireland’s largest gardening, food and family festival, will take place over 5 days from the 30th May to the 3rd June 2013. Garden designers and exhibitors wishing to stage or sponsor a garden are invited to enter a design for consideration by the expert panel.

Read more: Closing Date for Bloom 2013 Garden Design Application

Overseas Investor Pays €3.85m for 921 Acres of Forestry

AN AUSTRIAN investor has just acquired a large chunk of land in Ireland – 921 acres in a forestry investment portfolio spread over 20 locations in six counties. The businessman has paid €3.85 million for a range of properties in counties Kerry, Clare, Laois, Leitrim, Mayo and Roscommon which had been assembled and planted by Irish Forestry Services Asset Managers (IFSAM) over a 30-year period.

Read more: Overseas Investor Pays €3.85m for 921 Acres of Forestry

Why Continuous Cover has Wealth of Benefits for All

I have written previously about the concept of continuous cover forestry (CCF), also called close-to-nature forest management, with pointers on how to convert a conventional plantation to a CCF system over time. This week I will look at some advantages of close-to-nature forest management.

Read more: Why Continuous Cover has Wealth of Benefits for All

Irish Florist Guild Winter Wedding Workshop

Winter wedding workshop with Therese Quinn N.D.S.F. Saturday 6th October in the Red Cow Moran Hotel.  WINTER WEDDING DESIGNS.......a commercial design for your Winter brides. Therese Quinn is a well respected florist from Northern Ireland, known as a Commercial Florist of many years standing and also as a popular tutor. She teaches floristry in Belfast and Dungannon Tecnology Colleges.

Read more: Irish Florist Guild Winter Wedding Workshop

HortiTrends Weekly Comment & News Digest September 21th

We had a busy week this week with both the GLEE and Horticulture 2012 events on back to back. GLEE was presented as the relaunch of a more focused and newer Garden Retail show. There were news releases coming daily about a bustling busy show. It wasn't. It was more of the same, just new packaging. If you are in Garden Retail its always going to be worth a visit at least every 2 to three years. The Irish presence there was small and the organisers so not seem to have any real interest in the Irish market. In total there were about 5 Irish exhibitors including Bord na Mona, Neutrog and Shanette Sheds. One Irish person busily enjoying and working the show was Ann Mc Kenna of the GCAI who is now the 'Dry Goods' buyer for the buying group (now one larger with new member Windyridge). She takes over from Seamus McKenna who is close to retirement. We wish him well but are sure that suppliers will be calling on him in the future to try and get a better handle on the mindset of that group of people 'Garden Centre Retail Buyers' who decide whether you survive or thrive.

Read more: HortiTrends Weekly Comment & News Digest September 21th

Architecture Expo / RIAI Annual Conference

After 21 years, the RIAI 2012 Annual Conference returns to Dublin for a two-day conference on 23 and 24 September. RIAI President Michelle Fagan has set this years’s theme - Architecture - An Ethical Practise. Delegates attending both conference sessions on Sunday 23 and Monday 24 September are entitled to 10Structured CPD Points. Unstructured CPD Points (Selfdefined 1 Point per hour) are available for attendance at the Architecture Expo exhibition.

Read more: Architecture Expo / RIAI Annual Conference