Written answers

Thursday, 26 May 2022

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Agriculture Industry

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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136. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that are being taken to address the low prices that farmers are receiving for organic beef. [26972/22]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Market price of any product is determined by the economic principle of supply and demand and I have no role in this. It is the Department's commitment to ensure that the current market and potential markets for Irish organic beef are explored, are viable and will lead to an optimal price premium for farmers. 

A significant proportion of the organic beef produced in Ireland is destined for customers on the domestic market with all of the major retailers in the Irish market listing organic beef in some capacity. Irish organic beef is also exported to Germany, Britain, Netherlands and the Nordics, however, it is difficult to get an indication of export market share at this time.

Organic beef production in Ireland has been estimated at 3,150 tonnes in 2021 which accounts for less than one per cent of overall beef production (619,800 tonnes CSO).

Bord Bia, under the aegis of the Department, continues to invest in identifying and supporting export market opportunities for Irish organic companies (including those seeking to export beef) through their network of overseas offices and trade events.

Central to this is the planned return to the BioFach trade fair in July 2022. This is the leading trade fair for organic produce in Europe. Bord Bias organic client companies will be able to build new business and generate new leads. Bord Bia, along with DAFM, will deliver a Ministerial Trade Mission to Germany around Biofach to help advance lead generation activities in Europe’s largest organic market.

There is currently a project under way in Bord Bia to quantify the volume of organic produce available for the domestic retail market/export in each individual category. This will allow Bord Bia to best align its supports to the Irish organic sector.  Bord Bia will also be engaging in a promotional campaign in Summer 2022 with key retailers on the domestic market to raise awareness of Irish organic products. This will improve understanding and grow preference amongst Irish consumers for all categories of Irish organic produce, including beef.

There are very real challenges that exist when it comes to growing and co-ordinating the supply base of organic beef so that the sector is well placed to benefit from the growing demand for organic produce.

To reap the benefits of growing demand for organic produce it is important that we have increased supply available on a consistent basis. The significant leakage of product in the beef sector between farm of origin and final processing is a particular issue.  The Organic Strategy Forum which has met twice in 2022 will be examining this topic further in 2022 with a view to addressing all the issues that cause product leakage to occur with a view to recommending remedial actions.

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