New national organic awards launched at Bloom 2026

Research from Bord Bia shows that the Irish market for organic produce grew by 12.5% last year, driven by increasing retailer and consumer appreciation for organic foods

Thu, 28 May, 2026 - 17:05

Zoe Geary

A new set of awards recognising organics in Ireland's food and agricultural industry has been announced at Bloom 2026.

Jointly hosted by the Department of Agriculture and Bord Bia, the flagship biennial awards will take place in September at the Bord Bia Global Hub in Dublin.

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The awards are now open to entries from the 6,100 Irish organic farmers and food businesses across Ireland. Research from Bord Bia shows that the Irish market for organic produce grew by 12.5% last year, driven by increasing retailer and consumer appreciation for organic foods.

The National Organic Awards recognise excellence and innovation across Ireland’s organic farming and food sector and will celebrate producers, retailers, exporters, farmers and food businesses championing organic production in Ireland.

The full list of award categories includes:

Best Irish Organic Brand Award.
Best Irish Organic Farmer Award (Male and Female).
Best Irish Organic Retailer Award.
Best Irish Organic Exporter Award.
Best New and Innovative Irish Organic Product Award.
Best Irish Organic Foodservice and Impact Initiative Award.

The closing date for entries to the National Organic Awards is July 17, 2026. The winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony planned for September, with judging due to take place at the Bord Bia Global Hub on September 3, 2026.

Speaking at the launch, minister Heydon said: “Ireland’s organic sector continues to play an increasingly important role in the sustainable development of the Irish agri-food sector, presenting significant opportunities to increase our food exports to meet growing demand for organic products on international markets.

"The National Organic Strategy has set an ambitious target of €750 million in wholesale output by 2030, and great strides are being made to achieve this.”

The launch at Bloom forms part of Bord Bia’s wider organic sector showcase at Bloom 2026, where visitors to the gold medal-winning garden designed by Linda McKeown, Organic Show Garden: Nature in Balance, can experience a five-day programme of talks, discussions and demonstrations exploring organic food, farming, biodiversity and sustainability.

Speaking at the launch, representatives highlighted the continued growth and momentum within Ireland’s organic sector and the importance of recognising innovation, quality and leadership across the industry.

CEO of Bord Bia, Jim O’Toole said: “Consumer interest in organic food continues to grow both in Ireland and internationally, with shoppers increasingly seeking food that reflects quality, provenance, and sustainability. Bloom provides the ideal platform to showcase the passion, innovation, and expertise that exists in Ireland’s organic food and farming sector.”