400 sugar beet and malting barley growers protest at Greencore AGM

Ray Ryan, Agribusiness Correspondent

The placard-carrying farmers, supported by SIPTU members and officials, travelled from various parts of the country to protest outside the Berkeley Court Hotel in Ballsbridge, where the Greencore shareholders met. The growers later moved their protest to Leinster House, where they lobbied politicians.

John Dillon, president of the Irish Farmers Association, which organised the demonstration, said beet growers have rejected Greencore’s decision to close the Carlow factory, describing it as premature before the outcome of EU sugar reform talks is known at the end of this year.