Mr Sargent said he intends to bring together key industry leaders, opinion makers and agricultural academics, with some of Ireland's top organic farmers and growers to better appreciate what organic farming is about.
Mr Sargent, who was launching his Department's Organic Farming Action Plan 2008-2012 in Dublin, said he was committed to achieving the necessary development of the sector.
"The target of 5% of land area in organic production by 2012, set down in the Programme for Government, is indeed a challenging target but one that I believe is achievable," he said.
