Aiming to tackle structural problems that make it difficult to process organic livestock through organic supply chains, the Organic Beef and Lamb Innovation Group (OBLIG) was launched on Friday by Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon.

"Every organic farmer knows the frustration of doing everything right on their farm and then watching the value disappear at the point of sale," organic farmer and OBLIG participant Paul Kennedy said.

"You put in the years to convert your farm to the organics and then the animal is sold as conventional and the premium is gone. On your own, there is very little you can do about it.

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"That is why OBLIG matters. For the first time, we have farmers, finishers, processors and retailers communicating with each other and working on the same problem.

"Being able to connect with a finisher, plan around the season and know there is a buyer at the end of it changes how I look at the next few years. This is farmers taking the sector into their own hands."

Objectives

Led by ifac, in partnership with Teagasc, National Organic Training Skillnet and Leitrim Organic Farmers Co-op, and co-funded by the Department of Agriculture and the European Union, the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) project brings together farmers, finishers, processors and retailers.

OBLIG is built around five objectives:

  • Reducing leakage of organic produce into the conventional supply chain.
  • Improving co-ordination across the supply chain.
  • Enhancing collaboration and support among producers.
  • Addressing distribution and finishing challenges.
  • Strengthening the market linkages that connect farmers to buyers.

    • Addressing the disconnect

    The team will focus on addressing the disconnect between weanling and store beef producers in the west and finishing capacity in the midlands, south and east, and the seasonality that leaves processors and retailers short of certified organic supply for parts of the year.

    They will also work with hill lamb producers and finishers, co-ordinate activity across participating farmers to extend the season and engage with marts.

    At the launch, Minister Heydon said: “By bringing producers, finishers, processors and retailers around the same table and backing them with training, farmer networks and better information, this project gets to the root of the challenges farmers and processors face.

    "This is the kind of practical, farmer-led innovation, supported by the Department of Agriculture, the European Union and EIP-Agri, that will help us build a stronger and more sustainable future for the sector."

    With a group of participating farmers already in place, a second cohort of farmers will be recruited throughout 2026, opening the project to more organic beef and lamb producers who want to connect with finishers, processors and retailers.