Carbery and Teagasc renew West Cork sustainability programme for another five years
(Left to right) Jason Hawkins, CEO of Carbery Group; Darragh O'Donovan, farm sustainability lead with Carbery; Michael and Fachtna Collins, demonstration farmers; Gráinne Hurley, Teagasc regional advisory manager for Cork West; Joan Collins, Tom Curran, Teagasc head of advisory services; Don Crowley, Teagasc joint programme co-ordinator, and Enda Buckley, director of sustainability at Carbery. Picture: Andy Gibson
A long-term joint programme to lead and demonstrate the development of sustainability in Irish dairy has been renewed for the next five years.
The programme, which has been running between West Cork-based dairy processor Carbery Group and Teagasc since 1998 to develop and showcase sustainability in the dairy sector, has been renewed to 2030 for West Cork farmers.
Over almost three decades, the programme has played a key role in driving improvements in farm profitability, grassland management, milk quality and sustainability across the region.
The joint programme will emphasise safeguarding and strengthening the existing milk supply base while supporting sustainable growth in milk solids production.
This will be achieved through improved pasture utilisation, enhanced herd genetic merit, and better herd fertility performance, alongside measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect water quality, and promote biodiversity.
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Generational renewal will also be a priority of the programme. The average age of dairy farmers is continuing to rise, and labour availability is becoming increasingly constrained; encouraging the next generation into dairy farming is essential in areas like West Cork.
This will help secure the long-term sustainability of milk production, a sector that supports thousands of jobs across West Cork and contributes significantly to the regional economy.
The programme will aim to support Carbery's farmer shareholders in building profitable, resilient and sustainable farm businesses while responding to evolving environmental, economic and labour challenges.
An additional feature of the programme with this renewal is the collaboration with the Teagasc GROdairy project.
The project seeks to address the critical challenge of generational renewal in the Irish dairy sector, where almost half of farm families do not have an identified successor and young entrants face significant barriers to land access and progression.
Two of the farms involved will demonstrate collaborative farming models in real-world farm settings, highlighting financial, technical, and interpersonal dimensions.
The joint programme will be co-ordinated by Don Crowley of Teagasc, supported by the Teagasc dairy, drystock and climate advisory teams in West Cork. The team will collaborate with Carbery and the advisors and staff across the four West Cork co-operatives.
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Regional advisory manager of Teagasc in Cork West, Gráinne Hurley, expressed her thanks to Carbery and the four West Cork co-ops, Bandon, Barryroe, Drinagh and Lisavaird, for the renewal of the programme.
She said: “The joint programme plays a vital role in our advisory programme, guiding the advancement of dairy farming in the region. As an advisory team, we are excited to collaborate with all farmers and members of the broader agricultural community in West Cork throughout the next five years.”
Carbery Group chair, Vincent O’Donovan, also welcomed the renewal of the programme, saying: “This programme has been delivering real value to West Cork farmers for almost 30 years.
"As we look to the future, our focus is on helping farm families remain profitable, sustainable and resilient while supporting the next generation of dairy farmers. Working together with Teagasc and our co-operatives, we can continue to build a strong future for dairy farming and for rural communities across West Cork.”
