It’s hard to believe in many ways that Origin Enterprises, an offspring of the old IAWS that was set up to supply the Irish co-op movement with farm inputs, has invested in a major farm input supplier in Brazil.

Origin has been seen as the minor cousin of the much more high-profile Cuisine de France which, then by way of a large takeover, became Aryzta, has to put it at its mildest had its share of problems of late, with dramatic falls in its share price.

But Origin has stuck to the knitting with its fertilisers and agri inputs. It now has major operations in Ireland, Britain (where it took over the Masstock consultancy and agri-input business), as well as a major presence in some of the most fertile areas of eastern Europe – areas that have seen dramatic increases in cereal output.

While we rightly worry about the threat of a Mercusor trade deal with the EU, it is much more likely that China will be the main target of their farm expansion

In many ways, Brazil is a logical next step for the company. It’s easy to denigrate Brazil for many aspects of the administration of the country, but its farming and research capacities are the envy of many more supposedly advanced nations.

Their farmers, many of Italian extraction, have transformed with the application of sound science, huge areas of barren scrubland into highly productive, internationally competitive farms. The cost of food has plummeted for the population and they have become the world’s largest or second largest exporter of a range of agricultural products, from beef to sugar to soya to poultry. In a country with such enormous potential, it is fascinating to see an Irish supplier of technical inputs and expertise make a significant investment.

While we rightly worry about the threat of a Mercusor trade deal with the EU, it is much more likely that China will be the main target of their farm expansion.

Origin, given its experience of working in countries with different conditions and political cultures, should be well placed to thrive in Brazil. Its progress will be watched with intense interest.

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