March / April

2008 March / April

Welcome to the one hundredth issue of Organic Matters.

In this edition we look back over eighteen years of the magazine, identify some of the main barriers to development of the organic sector and look at what can be done for the future.

While the issues for organic farming are much as they were in 1991, society and the world have changed in the intervening period. Much of the idealism and volunteerism of the early IOFGA has been lost. Time constraints and busy lives mean that members are less inclined to get involved. Strengthening the organisation through re-vitalising local and regional contacts is an issue that IOFGA will be addressing over the coming year.

Organic Matters was lucky in its formative years to have had the talents of Fergus Brogan as editor. His concise and pertinent headlines are still a joy to read. Cóilin MacLochlainn took what was then an in-house magazine and developed it into a professional publication with broad appeal and widespread sales outside the organic world. My fellow editor, David Storey, contributed to Organic Matters for many years until his death and tributes are paid to his sharp wit and humour elsewhere in the magazine.

Reaching one hundred is an achievement in itself given the limited resources available to the magazine and the small production team involved. Thanks to Alison Dickson and Frank McGouran for their hard work and dedication. I'd particularly like to thank all those who have contributed over the years and continue to write for us. And finally, thanks to you, our readers without whom we would not exist.

Here's to another one hundred!

Cáit Curran, Editor