Co-ops umbrella body boss rejects ‘toothless talking shop’ criticisms

THE head of the co-ops umbrella body, ICOS, said yesterday that it is engaged in a huge level of work in relation to the movement for change within the dairy industry.

It followed a claim at the European Dairy Farmers Congress in Cork earlier this week that ICOS is a “toothless talking shop”.

ICOS president, Pat McLoughlin, did not refer directly to the criticism in yesterday’s statement but outlined “the huge level of work” ICOS has been conducting over recent months and the level of work ahead.

He said ICOS is meeting the boards and management of all the milk processors and the Irish Dairy Board to lead the movement for change in the industry.

“ICOS’ goal is a structural realignment of our dairy processing and marketing efforts to better allow us to compete on European and world markets, while coping with the realities of reduced EU supports,” he said.

Mr McLoughlin said ICOS continues to research and conduct study visits to European countries with similar dairy businesses and co-op structures.

In parallel, ICOS has hosted a number of seminars throughout the year where international leaders from competing milk producing countries make presentations to Irish industry leaders.

The next seminar in the series will be held in July where Valio, a major processor from Finland, will address representa-tives from Irish dairy co-operatives.

Mr McLoughlin said ICOS is also on target to deliver central milk testing by the 2010 milk season.

“ICOS has always engaged in proactive, progressive activity for the advancement and support of the Irish agricultural industry and will continue to do so in the years ahead,” he said.

Delegates to the European Dairy Farmers Congress, which concluded in Cork last night, were meanwhile told that Ireland has a large potential to expand in milk production when the quota system will be dismantled.

EDF president, Jean-Francois Verdenal, said Ireland has the best climatic and natural conditions for low-cost grass-based milk product-ion with simple systems.

“Ireland currently exports about 80% of its dairy products and therefore has capabilities to market additional milk production,” he said.