Flahavan’s has invested a significant €1.8 million in new organic oat storage infrastructure, adding eight 850-tonne silos and boosting its storage capacity by a further 6,800 tonnes.

The new project, which was supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM), represents a major vote of confidence in the mill in Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford.

The new infrastructure strengthens Flahavan’s organic oat supply chain, with organic oats now accounting for around half of all oats milled.

The company officially unveiled the new investment boost during a visit to the site by 35 organic ambassadors - representing 23 different countries.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, has welcomed the latest investment by Flahavan’s in Ireland’s organic sector.

"Increasing domestic storage and processing capacity is an important part of supporting the growth of organic production, strengthening the market for Irish organic growers and helping to deliver on Ireland’s ambitions for the sector," the minister said.

According to Flahavans the investment will enable them to "increase their storage capacity, allowing them to provide more control over crop segregation; quality; and continuity of supply".

Johnny Flahavan said: “Organic oats have become an increasingly important part of our business, and we continue to invest in the infrastructure, grower relationships and market development needed to support that growth.

"For us, a key part of that is continuing to build a strong and resilient Irish organic oat supply base".

However the company has also highlighted that as demand continues to grow, the need to make a sufficient supply can be a challenge when farming organic oats, due to weather and harvest conditions impacting crop yields and milling quality.

Flahavan’s said it works closely with its organic growers throughout the year, offering "hands-on support, specialist agronomy advice and bringing growers together at its annual Organic Growers Forum".

It said its focus is to help growers make the most of the growing organic oat market, understand the quality standards needed for milling and navigate the practicalities of switching to and maintaining organic production.