With fears growing about potential disruption to trade in the event of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit, Ireland’s organic sector is looking to tap into valuable EU markets.
A report in the Irish Independent says that the sector has identified the French and German markets – worth €17 billion between them – as prime target markets. But opportunities are likely to exists across the EU, where double-digit growth has been the norm in several markets in recent years.
Talking at this month’s National Organic Foods Awards food and farming minister Andrew Doyle said: “The sector has huge growth potential in Ireland but we have to be focused on how we drive it forward. There are good economic opportunities for farmers and producers in this sustainable system of farming.”
Tara McCarthy, CEO of the Irish Food Board (Board Bia), added: “Bord Bia is committed to supporting Irish organic producers to reach their potential and strengthen their trade both at home, and in key export markets.”
Concerns have been growing more widely in the Irish food and farming world about the potential disruption to trade with Britain is unable to strike an exit deal with the EU. Putting this into perspective, exports to the UK currently account for more than half of total Irish cheese production, a quarter of Irish butter production.
Irish organic producers may well see an opportunity additional to replace UK organic exports to EU states if, as is feared, Britain could be shut out of EU markets for a year after a no-deal Brexit.
Picture: Food and farming minister Andrew Doyle dressing the National Organic Food Awards. Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, via Twitter.