The Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) is calling on farmers to complete an online survey on their future farming intentions.

The survey, which was launched this week, seeks to understand if farmers intend on changing their farming model, either through increasing/decreasing farm activity, moving into a new farming sector or exploring alternative options such as anaerobic digestion or hemp production for example.

The survey takes around 15 minutes to complete and forms part of a larger research programme into farmer attitudes and intentions on sustainability measures and the bioeconomy.

Co-operation

ICOS promotes commercial co-operative businesses across multiple sections of the Irish economy.

As such, the organisation is particularly interested in the development of new co-operative business models, so a key aspect of the survey examines farmers willingness to participate in co-operatives as a means to establish or enter new markets.

Results

The survey information will be completely anonymous and will be combined with outputs from ICOS’s recent focus groups held with farmers.

A report will then be developed and published in early 2023 with a number of key recommendations which will be followed with the formation of a new working group.

To take part in the survey, follow this link .