A new organic fertiliser product from 'Down Under' looks set to be the answer to the prayers of hard-working farmers across the country.

Unpredictable weather patterns, and myriad environmental regulations mean Ireland's agricultural community has never had it so tough.

One of the biggest tasks for farmers is ensuring compliance with the nitrates directive, which compels them to prevent the pollution of waterways from agricultural sources, as well as cutting ammonia emissions.

Now, a Limerick-born businessman is bringing to market a unique new organic fertiliser product, which will comply completely with these strict environmental directives.

James Long, who hails from Ballinacurra, is the sole distributor in Ireland of Black Gold Organic Fertiliser and is a shareholder in the manufacturing company in Australia.

Free from nitrates, and with a base of seaweed, the product promises to give great yield to both cost-conscious farmers and the wider community.

"It's aimed at dairy farmers, crop farmers, nurseries, those who manage GAA pitches and golf courses. Anyone who has an intent to improve the growth in their grass," James explains.

"We have put years of research and development in Australia into this.

"Due to it being a powder format, we are able to import it. Once the product is activated with water, we can guarantee farmers more coverage on their land for a cheaper price," James added.

James's father Jim Long, a former Mayor of Limerick, has invested in the concept, such is his confidence in it.

He describes the product as a "win-win" for the environment, for land, farmers, government and the European Union (EU).

"This product will comply 100% with the EU directives of getting rid of mulch.

"It will safeguard the water tables. It gives bigger yield, and a bigger product. It is 100% organic, so it's very good for the environment," he said.

Black Gold Organic Fertiliser

In a further boost to the company, Black Gold Organic Fertiliser has received certification from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) after a strict two-year assessment period.

James, who moved to Australia 20 years ago, now splits his time between Oz and the premises of BioAgricultural Products Ireland Ltd., the parent company of Black Gold Organic Fertiliser in Smithstown, Shannon, Co. Clare.

It is thanks to support from the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) in Clare that the business has been able to enjoy a strong start in Ireland.

A number of farmers around Ireland have already trialled the product

One of these, Co. Limerick beef farmer, Billy Fitzgerald, said he tried Black Gold Organic Fertiliser last September on trial and saw a "difference".

"It was really good, we didn't do all the field and you could see the difference in the grass where it was sprayed and what wasn't sprayed.

"From the time we sprayed it, it was about three weeks, it really started to grow fairly good then after the three weeks.

"The grass was a lot greener than normal and you can let the cattle in straight away because the product is organic and it is quite safe for animals," Billy said.

According to dairy farmer, Seamus O'Riordan, Black Gold Organic Fertiliser is an ideal product for intensive dairy farmers.

"It is an organic product and a lot of farmers are very tight in fertiliser limits so if you are farming intensively it would be ideal," Seamus added.

Distributor

James Long has a long term plan for Black Gold Organic Fertiliser in Ireland but initially he is aiming for modest growth.

James said this is because of lessons he has learnt from various business mentors through the years.

"Build it slowly, then build it big," he explains. "At the end of the day, we have limited stock in Ireland, but we have unlimited supply.

To this end, he plans to visit as many farmers as he can in Ireland to give them a flavour of what to expect from Black Gold Organic Fertiliser.

"We will be an e-commerce business to start with. But we are in talks with some big suppliers and co-ops to take the product," he continued.

"As I previously said, it's something we want to take slowly to the market in a proper fashion."

Climate

Often it can be hard to replicate the success of a product in such wildly different climates as Ireland and Australia.

But Jim said: "Myself and James had a discussion about this. He asked if I thought it would work in Ireland and Europe. I said, 'if it is working on dry land in Australia, it will certainly work on wet land here'."

Many millions has already been spent on the product, James says, both in terms of research and development, the logistics of moving stock thousands of miles across the world - and that's before coming into Ireland, and facing the set-up costs, approval and grant aid.

James invested in Bioagricultural Products in 2017 on the basis that he would have the distribution rights for this territory.

During his time on Limerick City Council, his father was well-known for his environmental activism, and has always been aware of the need to look after the planet for the next generation.

"I am 100% aware of the pollution which has been caused by nitrates and ammonia," Jim said.

"This is the way to reduce it and to stop it. I'm a shareholder in the company. But my investment is for my grandchildren, my great grandchildren and for the future of Irish farms."