Report recommends central hub for organic producer organisations

(L-R) Niall Ryan, DAFM; Amy Ward Whelan, IFAC; Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon; Jim Hogan, organic farmer; Professor Frank O'Mara, Teagasc director; Elaine Leavy, organic adviser Teagasc; Fintan Phelan, Teagasc Image: Finbarr O'Rourke
(L-R) Niall Ryan, DAFM; Amy Ward Whelan, IFAC; Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon; Jim Hogan, organic farmer; Professor Frank O'Mara, Teagasc director; Elaine Leavy, organic adviser Teagasc; Fintan Phelan, Teagasc Image: Finbarr O'Rourke

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has today (Monday, March 17) launched a report on the feasibility study on producer organisations (POs) in the Irish organic sector.

The purpose of this report, commissioned by Teagasc, is to evaluate the potential role of POs in enhancing and supporting the Irish organic agricultural sector.

The research identified several barriers to the success of POs in the organic sector, including regulatory complexity, lack of specialised skills, trust issues, and financial risks.

However, it also highlighted significant opportunities, such as improved supply coordination, joint marketing efforts, shared resources, and collaborative research and development.

The Irish Organic Strategy strategy aims to increase the percentage of land under organic farming to 10% by 2030.

In 2024, an additional 1,050 farmers joined the OFS, bringing the total number of participants to over 5,000 and expanding the organic land area to 225,000ha, approximately 5% of the total farmed land in Ireland.

Teagasc said that the recommendations in the study provide a roadmap for fostering the development of organic POs in Ireland.

The report calls for the establishment of a centralised PO hub, the development of a comprehensive handbook, and the implementation of targeted training programmes.

The need for investments in digital tools, exploration of joint processing facilities, and support for shared resource schemes is also highlighted.

Teagasc noted that the success of organic POs will depend on "a collaborative effort from all stakeholders in the sector".

It added that the experiences of successful organic POs in other countries provide valuable lessons and inspiration for the Irish context.

The report recommends joint processing facilities should be explored, particularly in the fruit and vegetable and tillage sectors, to add value to organic products.

An investigation into possible shared purchasing initiatives for organic inputs to reduce costs and support local organic production is recommended.

The report also highlights the potential for machinery and labour sharing POs, particularly in horticulture and tillage sectors.

Teagasc said that consideration should be given to the formation of a specialised organic hill lamb PO to address challenges in that sector

Minister Heydon said that the report "offers insights into the positive opportunities within the supply chain for development of the organic sector and presents a unique opportunity for our family farms".

"Of course, there are also barriers that we have to deal with, and I would encourage stakeholders to apply for funding calls by government and agencies to support change and development in this area," he said.

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The minister said he will be "watching with interest" the development of a new biodistrict in the midwest of the country, which was funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

Professor Frank O’Mara, director of Teagasc said that the study’s findings "underscore the significant benefits producer organisations can offer to organic farmers by improved market access".

"Producer organisations can facilitate collective marketing efforts, enabling producers reach a larger market and negotiate better terms by uniting producers and strengthening bargaining power, leading to fairer pricing structures.

"Collaborative efforts will also assist in reducing costs and promoting sustainable practices," he said.

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