This article is from page 20 of the 2011-05-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 20 JPG
ORGANIC food production could become one of the largest growth areas in Clare in the years to come if producers begin to take a collaborative approach to marketing and distribution.
The production of fine organic foods is already one of the few areas of the economy which have continued to grow throughout the recession but a new feasibility study has shown there is a great demand for organic produce in the UK and mainland Europe, with a number of Clare producers in line to take advantage.
This news comes as a delegation of “heavy hitters” from the Austrian organic food industry visited North Clare last week. The group spent sev eral hours at the Burren Smokehouse in Lisdoonvarna on Friday morning, before taking part in a full tour of the St Tola’s Goats Cheese farm in Inagh in the afternoon.
Austria is the EU leader in organic farming, with more than 15 per cent of all land in the country farmed organically, compared to just 1.5 per cent of land in Ireland. It also has one of the largest markets for organic produce in Europe – an area which has showed continued growth in recent years, despite the downturn in the European economy.
The group, which contains more than 40 individuals involved in the Austrian organic industry, were brought to Clare as the guests of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Association.
“Almost 25 per cent of the market for food in Austria is for organic food, compared to just four per cent in Ireland, so there is a lot that we can learn from these people,” said Birgitta Hedin-Curtin from the Burren Smokehouse.
“They have learned to combine tourism with organic production with tourists coming to stay at organic farms. But the real area that we can learn from them is in terms of organisation and working together.
“They have organic co-ops over there where everyone works together, especially in terms of marketing and distribution. I think that this is something that would work here in Ireland. There is a Meitheal spirit in the Irish, and people will work together, especially now in the more difficult times.
“There is a massive market for organic Irish produce both in the UK and in mainland Europe and if we work together we can make it happen.”
Austria is the second richest economy in the EU and organic agriculture is a key component of their economy.