Ireland’s organic farming community is set to take centre stage this autumn with a series of regional roadshows, supported by the Department of Agriculture, Bord Bia, Teagasc and multiple industry partners.

The events bring together farmers, processors and industry experts to explore the growth potential of Ireland’s organic beef and lamb sector. The number of organic livestock farms has trebled since 2022. The first event took place this week on Wednesday 24 September in Portlaoise.

The upcoming roadshow events are taking place on Wednesday 1 October in the Shearwater Hotel, Ballinasloe, Co Galway; the following Wednesday 8 October at the Woodlands House Hotel, Adare, Co Limerick; and again on Wednesday 15 October in the Abbey Hotel in Donegal Town.

ADVERTISEMENT

Meetings commence with refreshments and a series of trade stands from relevant organisations at 6 pm, with the seminar element commencing at 7pm.

Demand

Organic beef and lamb continue to deliver positive returns for farmers, helped by strong and consistent demand, with Irish processors currently unable to source enough animals to meet market needs, the National Organic Training Skillnet has said.

Bord Bia is investing heavily to further grow the market for organic beef and lamb, including the €2.3m 'more-ganic' consumer campaign in the Irish market.

Also the €2.7m EU-wide B2B promotion campaign (2024–2027), targeting buyers through trade shows, PR, advertising and a dedicated website, organicbeefandlamb.eu, is another investment.

“These investments are designed to build both supply and demand, ensuring Irish organic beef and lamb are well positioned at home and across Europe,” said Tara Bane, Bord Bia’s organic sector manager.

Consumer interest

Recent Bord Bia research highlights strong momentum at the consumer level in relation to organic meat with more than eight in 10 Irish shoppers inclined to believe organic food and drink is worth paying more for.

Two-thirds of organic shoppers across seven key EU markets would purchase Irish organic food and drink, while Irish organic food and drink ranks as the number one import of choice among organic consumers in those markets.

Target

With a national target for 10% of land to be farmed organically by 2030, organic dry stock remains the backbone of Ireland’s organic sector, with over 70% of organic producers involved in cattle and sheep enterprises.

“Organic livestock farming has been attracting a lot more interest over recent years,” said Padraig Brennan, chair of the Organic Strategy Forum.

“With growing market demand and increased financial support, these roadshows will highlight the positive income potential from organic farming. We will also hear how processors are currently unable to source sufficient animals to satisfy demand.

"We’d encourage farmers to take the time to come along to a meeting near them to hear from experts, including Teagasc, Bord Bia, processors and, most importantly, farmers who have successfully established organic systems on their farms," he said.