Farmers urged to look to 38m organic market

RETAIL sales of organic products in Ireland have reached an estimated 38 million this year, the national organics conference was told in Portumna, Co Galway, yesterday.

Bord Bia chief executive Michael Duffy said it was the board s aim to implement a national marketing strategy for the organic sector that would raise the sector’s profile among consumers while encouraging more farmers to opt for organic production.

Launching the first national census of organic production, Minister of State Noel Treacy said the changes in the Common Agricultural Policy following the recent mid-term review should be favourable for the sector.

He predicted that the greater emphasis on rural development and the shift in emphasis from quantity quality production would provide new opportunities for organic farmers.

“Ireland, with its clean green image and generally extensive system of farming, is well positioned to attract large-scale commercially minded farmers to organic production,” he said.

Lisa McAllister, chief executive of the Western Development Commission, said organic food production was particularly important to farmers in the west. “Challenges do face the industry and in bringing together producer groups in the west, the WDC has demonstrated that progress can be made through partnership,” she said. The conference, the first of its kind, was organised by Bord Bia and the Western Development Commission in association with the Department of Agriculture and Food. More than 200 delegates attended.