After the occupation: what Bord Bia must learn from its worst governance crisis

Language and optics were key accelerants on the Bord Bia fire, with protests escalating each time farmers felt their concerns had been mocked or ignored. 

Dismissive language accusing critics of being “emotional” or “overreacting” did nothing to resolve the matter... as anyone with a significant other will know, telling a partner to “calm down” rarely settles a disagreement.

The immediate drama of the occupation has ended, but the underlying issues remain: governance, trust, and, most importantly, farmer confidence in Bord Bia. A month-long palaver that realistically could have been resolved with a couple of frank, timely meetings.

While the dust might be starting to settle, there are serious questions to be asked about the entire scenario and how it escalated to the point that the national food promotion board faced its worst-ever breakdown in stakeholder relations.