Bord Bia stakeholder meeting returns mixed reactions
Bord Bia has committed to working with farmers on improving engagement and feedback.
A stakeholder meeting, including farmers and industry representatives, was called by agriculture minister Martin Heydon.
As a result of the meeting, Bord Bia has committed to working with farmers on improving engagement and feedback.
Following the meeting, Mr Heydon said: “There was a detailed and thorough discussion in relation to several specific issues related to Bord Bia which have been raised in recent weeks.
The discussion also focused on what could be done to improve the experience for farmers around audits, while ensuring the quality assurance schemes are future-proofed to continue to benefit farmers and the Irish agri-food sector. All participants had the chance to express their views and were heard. I am pleased that stakeholders engaged constructively.”
“I have identified from contributions today that there needs to be a renewed focus on the farmer experience of the audit and Bord Bia engagement with farmers.”
The department said it would undertake an initiative to enhance understanding of global supply chains for Irish food and drink, and understanding of labelling and food information for consumer requirements.
All parties were asked to engage with these processes in good faith and to provide further feedback.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss key priorities for the year ahead, including CAP post-2027, EU budget negotiations, water quality and the nitrates derogation, animal disease issues, supports for generational renewal, and the steps all stakeholders need to take collectively to improve health and safety on-farm.
Mr Heydon thanked stakeholders for giving these important issues their consideration: “The discussions today will provide a starting point for the midterm review of Food Vision 2030, our stakeholder-led strategy. A public consultation on the midterm review of Food Vision 2030 will be launched later this month,” he added.
Macra na Feirme welcomed the dialogue with Mr Heydon on the key issues affecting farmers.
A spokesperson said: “As part of this significant engagement, the organisation welcomes positive first steps in resolving the continued issues surrounding Bord Bia in the form of constructive proposals to rebuild confidence in Bord Bia and give greater input of farmers' voice.”
Macra said it looked forward to continuing engagement to ensure the important issues highlighted in recent weeks were addressed.
The president of Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA), Denis Drennan said: “We’ll give the proposals the necessary study and then revert with our own detailed proposals to address the current impasse”, said Mr Drennan.
Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) President, Francie Gorman said the minister for agriculture refused to make any proposal to resolve the substantive issue around the loss of farmer confidence in the chair of Bord Bia.
“The minister and Bord Bia’s ‘kick the can down the road’ approach will not resolve this dispute, which is very regrettable for everyone. There is a massive disconnect between farmers and the corporate leadership in Bord Bia,” he said.
Mr Gorman highlighted that Ireland’s food exports were built on “the back of the 55,000 farmers” who participate in the Bord Bia’s quality assurance schemes and audits.
“The QA schemes are a partnership between farmers, processors, customer-facing businesses and Bord Bia. That partnership is being shattered.”
“Farmers will not have confidence in Bord Bia while the chair’s company is importing Brazilian beef and chicken. Now it has also emerged his company is not even part of the Bord Bia food processing QA scheme, despite the Bord Bia website saying it was. This is simply not credible,” he said.
Francie Gorman said IFA’s protest at the Bord Bia offices would continue.
“IFA remains willing to engage with the minister, Bord Bia or other parties to try and resolve this dispute with a view to restoring confidence in Bord Bia,” he said.
