Organic produce could boost trade

IRELAND’S €417 million food and drink trade with Germany could be boosted further with increased exports of organic produce, it was revealed yesterday.

A total of 12,400 tonnes of Irish seafood worth e24m is currently sold to Germany but there are also growing market opportunities for organic food exporting companies here.

Ireland’s organic sector was valued at e100m last year, increasing by 82% in two years. Organic grocery sales in Germany grew by 125% between 2000 and 2006.