ICSA joins chorus of opposition to PGI application for grass-fed beef
The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) has made a comprehensive submission to the opposition procedure for the application for a PGI status for Irish grass-fed beef by Bord Bia.
The ICSA suckler committee chairman Ger O’Brien explained that: “ICSA opposes the one size fits all application because it is too diluted and undermines the potential to get a premium price for specialist suckler beef production.”
He added that the ICSA, as an officially recognised representative association of suckler and beef farmers, has a legitimate interest in the application and ICSA is concerned about the future viability of the suckler sector.
This application represents a missed opportunity to build a brand around suckler beef. It is a less intensive farming system with much lower use of medicines and outside interventions.
“It offers the highest level of animal welfare and it is critical to the economies of disadvantaged areas,” he added.
“ICSA contends that the concept and purpose of a speciality designation is to achieve a premium price for a special and unique product.
“In order to satisfy the demands of beef processors and dairy farmers, the outcome is that the potential to achieve a premium price for suckler beef is compromised,” O’Brien concludes.
The ICSA says that this PGI application has failed to allocate sufficient weight to the need for using PGI status as a targeted intervention to deliver a premium price for suckler beef farmers.
The association is insisting that there needs to be a full consultation with farmer representatives to agree a strategy for PGI going forward before this application is progressed any further.
The ICSA joins the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) which has also officially lodged an opposition statement to the current PGI application for Irish grass-fed beef.
