Oliver Moore: Co-op model ideal for snail farming

Two hundred and fifty people attended a two day snail farming conference organised by NOTS — the National Organic Training Skillnet — in Tullamore last week. This level of interest is significant, and there appears to be an export market available, due to the shortfall in supply in Italy and France in particular.

Whatever about interest levels, there are only a handful of snail farmers in Ireland at present. In that context, I was asked to make a presentation on co-ops, on behalf of the Centre for Co-operative Studies in UCC, where I’m also a part-time lecturer.

Farming is both a solitary business and something we in Ireland have a long tradition of co-operating about. It’s worth unpacking how a co-op could benefit farmers interested in this new market opportunity.