Organic Farming in Ireland

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Organic Farming in Ireland

Original text by Noreen Gibney, with updates from FiBL, summer 2006, based on several sources (see links in the text).

Update of June 7, 2007

taken form the Teagasc Homepage Potential of Organic Tillage in Ireland

At the end of 2006 there were 1,260 registered operators in Ireland of whom 1,104 were farmers/growers They are farming 39,665 ha which represents approximately 0.9% of Utilizable Agricultural Area and the average holding size is approximately 36 ha. This organic area is made up of 26,137.25 ha which is fully organic and 13,810.05 ha which is in conversion to organic. This is well below the EU level. The National Steering Group for the organic sector has set a target of 3% of UAA to be either fully organic or in conversion by 2010. This is an ambitious target given the current position.

History

Up until the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) 2092/91, developments related to organic production in Ireland were in the hands of a small group of pioneering dedicated organic operators, who worked mainly on a voluntary basis to develop a high quality of standards for organic production.

The Irish Organic Farmers’ and Growers’ Association (IOFGA) was established in 1981 by 6 growers. Today it is the biggest of the three organic organisations.

In 1991 the second body, Organic Trust Ltd., came into existence, followed by a third in 1992, the Bio-dynamic Agriculture Association of Ireland, who trade produce under the Demeter Symbol.

Organisations

Irish Organic Farmers’ and Growers’ Association (IOFGA)

IOFGA was established in 1982. It is a membership-based organisation open to all. Its principle aims are:

To formulate and maintain a set of standards whereby agricultural produce may be classified as organic.
To certify the produce of those who request inspection and meet those standards.
To award to such certified produce an Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association Symbol.
To approve agricultural produce classified as organic by other bodies by awarding an Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association Symbol.
To provide a means of contact between members.
To encourage education and research so that improved methods of organic production can be adopted.
To aid the marketing and the promotion of organic food in Ireland.

IOFGA is approved by the Department of Agriculture and Food in Ireland for the Inspection and Certification of organic producers and processors in Ireland under Council Regulation (EEC) 2092/91. It is also one of the approved certification bodies in the UK.

Internet: http://www.irishorganic.ie and www.iofga.org, Magazine: Organic Matters.

Demeter Standards/ Bio-Dynamic Agriculture Association of Ireland (BDAAI)

The history of the biodynamic movement is described at the homepage of the Bio-Dynamic Agriculture Association of Ireland (BDAAI) as follows:

In the first half of the 20th century, the biodynamic impulse was supported in Ireland by individuals who singularly carried out their work in varying degrees.
By the mid eighties there was one Organic Movement in Ireland - - Irish Organic Growers Association (IOGA; now Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association IOFGA), and biodynamic farmers and growers were involved as founder members and the movement in general. However biodynamic producers gradually felt the need to make their produce recognisable as biodynamic.
By the late eighties a small group were being inspected by the Biodynamic Agricultural Association in the UK for Demeter status.
In January 1991 a group of committed biodynamic practitioners agreed the need to set up the Biodynamic Agricultural Association in Ireland. The Association was inaugurated in Dunshane, in September 1991.
With the imminent introduction of the Cuncil Regulation (EEC) 2092/91 on organic farming, there was enormous pressure to establish a biodynamic certifying body registered within the state. By July 1992, Demeter Standards were one of two state recognised organic certifying bodies in Ireland, to be followed in 1993 by a third.
A further step was taken in 1993 when Demeter Standards began to liase with other biodynamic organisations to become a member of a movement joining all Demeter Certifiers world-wide.

Information about the history of the biodynamic movenment and about the Bio-Dynamic Agriculture Association of Ireland (BDAAI) is available at its homepage and at that of Demeter Standards. http://biodynamic.w4y.at/demeter/index.html

Organic Trust Ltd.

Set up in 1991, the Organic Trust Limited is a non-profit making organisation.

It is a registered body, approved by the Department of Agriculture and Food in Ireland for the Inspection and Certification of organic producers and processors in Ireland under Council Regulation (EEC) 2092/91. It is also one of the approved certification bodies in the UK.

The Organic Trust is EN45011 compliant.

Internet:http://www.iol.ie/~organic/trust.html

Statistical development

The level of organic production in Ireland has progressively increased, and available statistics indicate that in 1993 238 holdings were registered with a total of 5'459 hectares under organic/conversion management. In 2004 there were almost 900 organic farms with a total of 30'000 hectares.

Most of the organic land is used as grassland. Of the arable land (ca. 1'000 hectares most is used for cereal production, but vegetables play a major role.

Table: Development of organic farming in Ireland 2000 to 2004, land use in 2004. Source FiBL Survey.

Council Regulation (EEC) 2092/91

The following information in this section about Council Regulation (EEC) 2092/91 is taken from the flyer Organic Food, published by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in 2004.

In Ireland the Department of Agriculture and Food is the competent authority for regulating the organic sector and ensuring that the obligations and requirements of Regulation 2092/91 as amended are adhered to. A Statutory Instrument 112/2004 supplements the implementation in Ireland (See also www.oekoregelungen.de; German).

DAF has approved three organic organisations for certification and inspection services

Bio-dynamic Agriculture Association of Ireland (trading under the Demeter symbol)
Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association (IOFGA),
Organic Trust Ltd.

Demeter, IOFGA and Organic Trust have jointly developed the Standards for Organic Food and Farming in Ireland (SOFFI) which incorporates the
guidelines of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) incorporating the requirements of Council Regulation
(EEC) 2092/91 and all its amendments.

Organic food produced in Ireland must include the words “Certified Organic” or “Organic Certification” on the label along with the code number of the relevant organic certification body: The name and logo of the certification body may optionally appear on the food item (IOFGA, Demeter Standards Limited, Organic Trust).

Organic produce originating within the EU may also carry
the organic symbol developed by the European Commission:
Terms such as "Bio" or "Eco" may only be used in the labelling or
advertising of organic food.

State Support for the Organic Sector

In Ireland the Department of Agriculture and Food operates the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) and the Scheme of Grant Aid for the Development of the Organic Sector.

The information below in the following section is taken from the Organic Farming Section at the homepage of the Department of Agriculture Food (DAF).(No date given in document, download of July 24, 2006)

Financial assistance is available through the following schemes:

a) Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS)

Supplementary Measure 6 (SM6) of the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS2) 2000-2006 provides aditional payments to participating farmers who wish to convert to or continue with organic farming methods. The objective of Supplementary Measure 6 is to encourage producers in REPS to respond to the market demand for organically produced food.

To be eligible to avail of this measure, farmers must submit to inspection by an approved inspection body, must register with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and must farm in accordance with an agri-environmental plan drawn up by an approved REPS planning agency for a period of 5 years. Details on the current payment rates are available from the DAF homepage.

The payments for the in-conversion phase referred to above are for a maximum period of two years with the remaining period of the REPS plan at the full organic status rate of payment. These payments will be for a maximum of 40 hectares.

Payments are calculated by reference to the commencement date of the agri-environmental plan or, if later, the date registered with the Department or the commencement date of conversion with the relevant inspection body. The lower payment shall apply from the date that full organic status is achieved.

Payment in respect of livestock production shall be computed on the basis of a minimum stocking level of 0.5 livestock units per hectare of the forage area qualifying for payment. In the case of crop production (excluding forage area) at least 50% of the eligible area for organic payment must be cropped each year.

The above is a brief outline of REPS. Further details on this scheme are now available from all Department local offices or from the Organic Unit of the dpartment.

b) Scheme of Grant-Aid for the Development of Organic Farming under the National Development Plan 2000-2006

Under the National Development Plan, grant assistance is currently available to organic operators (producers and processors) for investments in equipment and facilities for the production, preparation, grading, packing and storage of organic products.

Information for support under the scheme is available at the homepage of the Department of Agriculture and Food. .

The Market

The following information in this section about Council Regulation (EEC) 2092/91 is taken from the flyer Organic Food, published by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in 2004.

The market for organic food in Ireland is worth approximately 25 Euros million per year, with a current market growth rate estimated at 25% per annum.

Organic food sales in Ireland represent less than 0.5% of the total food
market, considerably lower than the 2% European average. Approximately 70% of the organic food on the Irish market is imported, which means only 30% is produced domestically from 0.7% of the available agricultural land.

These figures highlight the fact that demand for organic produce in Ireland is far greater than domestic production and, in line with international trends this demand should continue to rise.

On the Irish market, fruits and vegetables comprise the largest organic food type (approximately 45%) while meats (approximately 25%), dairy (approximately 10%), and other organic groceries make up the balance. In order to avoid confusion and facilitate consumer choice, the larger supermarkets segregate organic products in areas that are clearly labelled.

Training

There is a growing demand for on-going education among farmers converting to organic production. Courses, farm walks and training days are an essential part of the learning process for farmers considering changing to organic production methods.

At the internetsite of the Department of Agriculture and Food the relevant training institutions are listed.

University College Dublin
Teagasc
Mountbellew Agricultural College

An t-Ionad Glas
Organic Centre
The Organic Centre was established in 1995 as a non profit making company with the aim of providing training, information and demonstrations of organic gardening, growing and farming.
The Centre is located on a site of 19 acres in Rossinver in the unspoilt countryside of North Leitrim. Each year since 1995 has seen significant developments at the Centre.

Advisory Service

Advice on organic farming is available from the following organisations:

Teagasc
Teagasc is the general agricultural advisory service in Ireland. Information on its activities related to organic farming are available at its homepage.
The Leitrim Organic Farmers Co-op
North West Organic Co-operative Society Ltd
Organic Inspection Bodies
The Organic Centre
An t-Ionad Glas Organic College
Shannon Region Organic Meat Co-operative (SROM)

Taken from: DAF Homepage on Organic Food and Farming; Advice Section

Research

Research is a vital component in the development of organic farming in Ireland. The following are brief details on a number of research projects currently being carried out or that have recently been completed at a number of centres in Ireland:

Taken from: DAF Homepage on Organic Food and Farming; Research Section

Author

Noreen Gibney, former Operations Manager of the Irish Organic Farmers’ and Growers Association (IOFGA Ltd), http://www.irishorganic.ie/

Updates were carried out by Helga Willer of FiBL and any any enquires regarding the text should be directed to FiBL, Ackerstrasse, 5070 Frick, Tel. +41 62 8657272, E-mail, Internet www.fibl.org.

Forschungsinstitut fuer biologischen Landbau (FiBL) , Research Institute of Organic Agriculture
Ackerstrasse, CH-5070 Frick
Tel: +41 62 865 72 72 Fax:+41 62 865 72 73
Internet http://www.fibl.org