The area of Irish land in organic production surged by 21,543 acres between 2012 and 2017, latest figures from the Department of Agriculture show.

Just over 74,000ac was in organic production in 2017, accounting for 1.7% of the total agricultural area. This is a 40% increase on the 52,800 acres in 2012.

The market for organic food in Ireland grew by 10.5% in 2017, according to Minister of State Andrew Doyle.

The Irish organic retail market is worth €162m, with a further €44m generated by direct sales.

However, Ireland remains the third lowest country in the EU for its proportion of land in organics.

The total organic area in the European Union in 2017 was 12.6m hectares, which equates to 7% of the total utilised agricultural area.

The countries with the highest proportion of organic land were Austria (23.4% of total utilised agricultural area), Estonia (19.6%) and Sweden (19.2%), followed by Italy (14.9%), the Czech Republic (14.1%), Latvia (13.9%) and Finland (11.4%).

Ireland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia have a high proportion of their organic area under grassland. In 2017, 95% of Ireland’s organic land was in grass. Across Europe, the average is just 44%, with another 44% in arable production and the remainder under permanent crops.

Irish organic beef production stood at 1,135t in 2017, while the organic dairy industry produced just over 9m litres of raw and drinking milk.

However, the Irish market is under-supplied with organic grain.

A strategy for the sector to 2025 was launched last week, which aims to increase area under organic cereals and pulses from 2,426ha in 2017 to 5,000ha.

Organic farmer focus

Jane Shackleton.

Jane Shackleton, beef and sheep farmer, Co Cavan

“I maintain there needs to be more done on promotion and marketing. Bord Bia is only starting to do a marketing plan for organics. My sheep are all sold conventionally because there is an oversupply of organic lamb.

“On the beef side, processors are a big thing because there is only one for organics. I’d be interested to see what the uptake was for new entrants in dairy and tillage in the last round of the organic farming scheme.

“Education is a big bugbear of mine. In the strategy document they did say that they would put in a module in the Green Cert and establish a masters course here, which is good because at the moment we have to go to Scotland.”

Mark Gillanders on the family farm in Monaghan. \ Barry Cronin

Mark Gillanders, cereals and beef, Co Monaghan

“There’s a vast market for organic cereals in Ireland. Doubling the acreage probably wouldn’t fill the demand.

“I’m growing 50ac of grain in Monaghan. I’m the only one in my area doing it. I’m selling it from Mullingar to Donegal to Killeshandra to Armagh. It goes to all the organic beef farmers. Farmers need more education to get into organic cereals.

“Funding is there. It’s a very profitable enterprise. It’s next to dairy in profitability. There are guys who have got over €2,000/acre in gross margins. I have no bother getting €470/t for home-rolled organic grain.

“It’s the best-paying part of the farm. If you can do cereals and have a good knowledge of a rotation, you will have no bother hitting 3t/acre.”

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