Mr. Bobby Miller:

One of key requests of grain growers is that we need to differentiate between Irish grain and imports. Every other sector has a differentiation. It is done for milk, beef, lamb and pork; they all have distinctions. We to differentiate between native Irish grain and imports. The reality is that two thirds of the feed used in the country is imported, 70% of which is imported from outside Europe.

Our second key request is a marketing budget to promote what we have, which is gold standard grain. Practically no one knows about it and no feed mill is prepared to use it unless it is at the right price.

Our third request is for investment in adding value. Such organisations as Teagasc and UCD have done a lot of research on beans, the milling industry and rapeseed oil industry. We ask for investment beyond the research. We need companies to get on board now and start investing in Irish product. Unfortunately, 70% or 80% of our grain goes straight into a feed heap. We are competing with imported byproduct that already has added value.