1. Food safety A practical approach at farm level Tony Pettit. Kildalton College, Ireland

2. Teagasc Irish Agriculture & Food Development Authority Research Farm advice Training

3. Personal Experience Farm Adviser Beef Specialist Food Assurance Programme Leader Study of Irish farmer & adviser attitudes Kildalton College

4. Teagasc Food Assurance Programme Key objectives Increase awareness (farmers, advisers) Develop + deliver training modules Work with industry & state agencies

5. Food safety at farm level Farmers are food producers Key link in food chain Farm food safety is important Most produce safe food

6. 3 components of food safety Rules & standards Independent controls & checks Proactive food safety systems Increasing food safety requirements at farm level

7. What is the challenge? Farmers to understand & apply food safety principles: consciously proactively systematically

8. How can we help farmers? 1.Recognize concerns 2.Be realistic 3.Be clear 4.Make the rules practical 5.Can we do more?

9. 1.Recognise farmer concerns Important issue Farmer role Market angle Personal values Threat? Credibility?* Top down? Negative press? Complex attitudes to food safety *(imports, supermarkets)

10. Are farmer attitudes important? Food safety – ‘politicized’ Producers may be angry, defensive Food safety can be a ‘hard sell’

11. 2. Be realistic on farmer capabilities EU farming profile Small holdings Family labour Part time farmers Age & education

12. Farmer has many roles Stock person Business manager Administrator Environmental manager Quality controller Family duties/ part time It is possible to regulate beyond capabilities

13. Match expectations to system Extensive beef system Average size dairy farm Intensive pig system Intensive Horticulture

14. 3. Be clear on ‘why’ and ‘how’ Clear messages are essential Is there a strong penalty/reward? Are consequences visible or remote? Are the controls practical/achievable Farm food safety must be focused & meaningful

15. 4.Make the rules practical Legislation far too complex Need farm codes of practice Good farm assurance schemes help Rules & controls are not the sole answer

16. 5. Can we do more to help farmers? EU Farm policy Agri-food industry Training & awareness Farm advice Important areas

17. Recent EU Farm Policy Changes Help EU support payments tied to food safety Increases relevance for farmer Farmers respond to ‘schemes’ ‘Farm advisory system’ to help farmers?

18. Agri – food industry can help Processors next link in supply chain Outline the bigger food chain picture Educate farmer suppliers on ‘why’ Feedback information (e.g. pathogens)

19. Training & Awareness Programs Need more emphasis on farmer training Help farmers understand key principles Voluntary but recognised programs Short, practical & participative, farm checklists

20. What Training Objectives? Understand basic hazard analysis principles Farm biological, chemical, physical hazards Be able to apply to own farm Practical example – livestock medicines

21. Farm Inputs Feed Water Medicines Agro-chemicals Detergents etc Fertilisers Additives Purchased Stock Breeding Stock Activities/Procedures Cleaning/Hygiene Milking routine Feeding /Nutrition Husbandry activities Veterinary activities Bio-security Crop spraying Recording/Monitoring Farm Facilities Animal housing Stores -feed, crops -chemicals etc Milking Machine Bulk Tanks Machinery Food safety covers the production process Advise farmers on best farm practice

22. Summary Farming is a food business Most farmers produce safe food Pressure to demonstrate best farm practice Need much more emphasis on helping farmers