Organic Food Market: latest

Recent UK figures suggest a decline in sales of organic food, though an increase in land area managed organically. See here for more.

What's the story in Ireland? See below.

Volume up, value down. That's the story of organic food sales in Ireland, according to the latest TNS Bord Bia figures.

Volume refers to the amount of food being sold, whereas value refers to the revenue this food brings in.

The research, which covers the period up to December 2009, finds Ireland�s organic sector was valued at �105 million, with the volume increasing by 1.6% to 36,518 tonnes, compared to 2008 figures.

According to Bord Bia �Reflecting general price deflation across the food market during 2009, the value of organic sales declined by 10 percent.�

In value terms, the biggest winners were dairy products, yogurt, hot beverages and dried cereals. The foods that performed least well in value terms were fruits, breakfast cereals, fresh beef, hot beverages and milk.

In particular, the proliferation of new organic milk-based products is helping drive growth in the organic sector.

This is reflected in the stability of what is called penetration, or the range of households purchasing organic food.

To sum up what is going on in the organic market in Ireland right now: while people are spending less and spending less often, a stable number are buying a larger range of products.

This overall picture may not seem especially positive. However, it is a slightly better performance than the export-orientated food sector in general, which has seen both value and volume declines.

Irish food and drink exports experienced an estimated volume decline of 3 percent. The value of these exports declined by 12 percent last year, or by just under �1 billion, to stand at �7.12 billion.

There are of course many justifiable reasons for both markets to be suffering: global recession and deflation being the primary ones.

For Irish organic beef exports, the strength of Sterling is a constant issue: sales are reported to be recovering somewhat by the Leitrim Organic Farmers' Co-op, which has over 160 farmer members, following a tough time in December.

The organic sector has responded to the challenging market situation in a number of ways.

Reaching out to Continental Europe is one strategy. In general, both the German and French organic markets have remained relatively strong of late.

The seafood industry has been especially successful in accessing these Continental markets.

Up until 2007, the main Irish attendees at BioFach, the world's biggest organic food trade show, were from the Irish seafood sector.

All Irish salmon now has either an ecological or the full organic certification. Irish salmon exports to France rose by over 30% in the first half of 2009. Ireland now exports about 3500 tonnes of salmon to France per annum, to the value of �18million.

Along with seven seafood companies, this year's BioFach saw another seven Irish companies participating.

BioFach is widely regarded as the most important trade event in the international organic food and drink calendar.

However numbers attending and exhibiting were down slightly in 2010 from 2009:

In 2009, the event attracted over 46,000 European and International trade visitors from 130 countries, who saw over 2700 exhibitors. 2010 saw 43500 visitors from 120 countries experience just over 2500 exhibitors.

Nonetheless, in a sign perhaps of a culled though more efficient marketplace, a larger number of exhibitors surveyed expected follow up business from BioFach than in previous years.

The German market is especially strongly represented at BioFach, so Irish companies who exhibited at the show have potential access to Europe's biggest organic market, with an estimated annual sales turnover of �5.8 billion.

Specific Irish companies, many of whom exhibited at BioFach this year, have also begun to step up to the mark. Along with many in the seafood sector, The Good Herdsman, Beechlawn Organic, Solaris Botanical Teas, Just Foods and both Mossfield and St. Tola's Cheeses have all been working to both upscale and to develop export markets.

Undoubtedly, there are more challenges than in previous years. However, organic farmers and food businesses are performing well, considering the circumstances.

ORGANICS IN CHINA: from 4000 hectares to 2 million in 10 years

Despite being a tiny fraction of both the market and the farming, the scale of the organic sector in China is both massive and growing at a rapid rate.

This presents threats and opportunities to everyone else..

At present, there is hardly any organic processed food or meat in China � the latter must surely be of interest to the Irish organic sector, which is dominated by meat and by meat exporting.

China has up to 50 million middle class consumers, 200,000 foreigners who live there, and 65 million visitors annually. These are the people to whom organic food is being marketed at present.

Trade Shows like BioFach China and the Green Food and Organic Food Expo attract increasing numbers of exhibitors.

BioFach China 2009 was attended by 10,400 trade visitors, a 13% increase on 2008.

The bigger Green Food and Organic Food show was attended by 1200 enterprises from 37 different countries, as well as about 50,000 trade visitors.

China's official Organic Food Development Center estimates domestic sales of organic products at about 500 million US dollars every year.

And more growth is predicted: organic certification organizations estimate that production will increase by 30 � 50 % in the coming years and that exports of organic products could rise to a volume of 5 % of total food exports by 2020, as well as 1-2% of its domestic turnover.

However, China could easily start to swamp the world with some organic foods, as it has done with conventional garlic, which now accounts for over 2/3 of the global supply.

In 2000, only 4000 ha of China�s arable land was certified organic. By 2005, the figure was almost 1 million hectares; by 2007, it had reached 1.5 million hectares. Most recent figures suggest that very soon, close to 2 million hectares of Chinese land will be under organic certification. China now has more land under organic horticulture than any other country, mostly for frozen vegetable exports.

All of this in a country that wholeheartedly committed itself to the industrialisation of farming with gusto for the last 60 years. China is the major global user of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in the world.

On less than 1/10 of the world�s arable land Chinese farmers apply about one third of the worldwide production of nitrogen fertilizers.

Indeed, while all of this growth in organic farmland was occurring, from 2002-2007, China's usage of synthetic fertilizers went from 43 to 51 million tonnes.

With recent severe food scandals such as the melamine milk scandal with killed 6 and poisoned 300,000, and a history of chronic pollution, China has an significant image problem in exports and domestic consumption. It is not, for example, on the EU's approved 3rd Country list, which increases the costs and bureaucracy of its exports to the EU.

Dr. Charles Benbrook, chief researcher with The Organic Center, Rhodale (US): "China is a country that has emphasized industrial-driven economic growth and has invested very sparsely in pollution controls and cleaning up air and water," Benbrook says. "As a result, a lot of toxic materials have fallen on the land or are in water resources used for irrigation."

More pertinently for the Irish organic sector is how to supply China. One simple and innovative way to reach high end far flung professionals in catering and hotels is through services like Marketboomer.

Marketboomer links thousands of professionals who want produce with thousands more who seek it, through a website that involves a small commission � certainly compared to using a wholesaler/distributor.

According to Conor Lawlor of Marketboomer's Dublin Office. �We are an on line procurement system for the catering and hospitality industries. Really, its the hotels that dictate the products in terms of both the quality and the lists of items.�

�We have the medium and clients here and overesas, including Starwood Hotels, Intercontinental, Emirates airlines.�

Along with these sorts of innovations, the hard slog of attending the trade shows, and adding organic food businesses to the trade delegations would start the process of opening up this growing 500 million dollar market to the Irish organic sector.

ORGANIC MARKET 2009-2010

Where will Irish organic food find new markets in 2010 and beyond? It appears that the European market for organic products is surprisingly strong at present.

According to Amarjit Sahota, director of Organic Monitor, the UK based research and consultancy company, estimated overall growth in Europe was between 2 and 6 per cent in 2009. This is a drop from the double-digit growth rates of previous years but it is still unusually strong for a premium priced category.

The picture for organic food sales in 2009 was varied across Europe. Some some countries, such as the UK and Spain, suffered badly, whereas Scandinavian countries fared better.

Both the UK and Spain suffered from the global economic recession badly, and this is reflected in the organic market in each of these countries.

However, according to Sahota, the attitude of retailers played an important part too: expecting a downturn in demand for organic products, many retailers in the UK and Spain discontinued organic lines.

This contributed to a significant reduction in sales figures between August and March, but that since then, the market has stabilised.

There have also been signs of growth more recently in these two countries, which prompted retailers to admit that they were overly hasty in discontinuing organic lines.

For example, a recent survey from market research firm Mintel in the UK shows that nearly 40% of consumers claim they haven�t changed organic product purchasing habits because of the recession and only a mere 3% have stopped buying organic products altogether.

�Heavy users of natural and organic food and drink are most likely to indicate they�ve traded down to less expensive organic options,� notes David Browne, senior analyst at Mintel.

�However, less-frequent consumers of organic products have shown that they haven�t shifted their behavior. This is good news for the organic food and drink market, as this group may begin to buy more once recession-related fears begin to fade.�

Outside of the UK and Spain, many markets held firm for 2009: Italy, Germany and France all posted positive growth in 2009.

And in Sweden and Denmark, Organic Monitor said double-digit growth occurred in 2009 thanks to greater economic resistance to the recession and a more steadfast attitude from retailers.

Organic food sales from supermarkets and department stories in Denmark rose to �671m in 2008, marking a 29 per cent vertical rise on the year before, according to the Danish business daily Borsen.

According to Organic Monitor, growth rates for organic are strong in Scandinavian countries because of a combination of consolidation, culture and the economic backdrop.

�Their economies have not been as affected by the financial downturn as the UK, Germany, Spain and other European countries,� according to Sahota.

In addition, Scandinavians � and the Nordic culture � in general appear to be more conscious about environmental issues, he continued.

"Despite the very high cost of living, they don't seem to mind paying more for good quality products," says Sahota of the Scandinavian consumers. This culture contrasts with the 'discounting phenomena' in Germany and the UK in particular.

Consolidation has also been a factor. Between 2006 and 2007, many product ranges were re-vamped.

"After a period of slow growth and consolidation, growth kicks in and investment follows," explained Sahota, suggesting that Scandinavia is currently at the top of the cycle, an 'upturn' that contributed to the high double-digit growth witnessed in 2008.

The agri-food sector in Ireland is heavily export focused, so it is important for the sector to be aware of the trends across Europe. Traditionally, the UK has been a strong market for Irish organic products.

However, there are signs that the market's focus has begun to change towards mainland Europe. It is likely that another strong Irish delegation will travel to the world's biggest organic food trade fair, BioFach, which runs from 17-20th February in Germany . Last year's event led to significant new markets being accessed by Irish organic companies.

For more, see: BioFach

2009: THE ORGANIC YEAR THAT WAS

In spite of the trials and tribulations every aspect of Irish life has faced this year, organic farming and food has managed to stand tall.

Difficult, challenging, and testing times no doubt, and more yet to come. This is not to say of course that everyone has grown their business, that all have even survived. It is to say, however, that the organic movement is resilient.

The organic year began with a slightly unusual announcement: the arrival of a new certification body: IMO. This global organisation specialises in various ethical certifications, including organic.

Their arrival may in the coming years open up export markets, expertise and multi layered certification and validation of Irish organic products, which may well help build the Irish organic sector - who knows? Its up to farmers and food producers to be innovative in this regard.

February saw the largest delegation yet of Irish organic food businesses at the BioFach trade show in Germany. This was one of the many innovative actions the Department of Agriculture and the organic sector took: the necessity of a weak UK market bred the ingenuity of new European markets.

The summer saw two significant occurrences: the UK Food Standards Authority's (FSA) report on nutrition, and the figures on the growth of the organic market in Ireland. This report was, in my own reasonably informed opinion, flawed in numerous ways.

In brief, however, regarding the nutritional superiority of organic over conventional: a conclusion of 'not enough evidence to make a case either ways' would have been far more accurate than the actual report's conclusion of 'no evidence'.

New excellent award winning organic products emerged: simple, honest foods like Moonshine Milk, Drumeen Farm Happy Heart Oil and Sowan's bread.

In my own small way, myself and Joe Condon have been adding to this by beavering away on the Organics with Altitude initiative. This encourages hill farmers to consider suitable upland breeds, artisan butchering, direct selling and organic certification. It has been going well for us, and I've really enjoyed getting out and about meeting farmers from Donegal to Kerry.

Also during the summer, Foras Organach was established, a streamlined and industry-led way to help develop the sector, whilst public procurement of organic finally began.

Despite or perhaps even because of the recession, the organic market actually grew in the period up to last records, July. It grew at a faster rate than its previous rate of growth,which was fast anyway. Few other areas are also growing in the Irish economy: as a stark contrast, pharmaceuticals and the multinational sector in general are.

A crucial difference between organic and these other growth areas is that organic is about one of Ireland's key and immovable natural resources � the land. Organic doesn't even have the option of relocating to Bangalore or New Deili: multi and transnational capital always has that option.

In this light, it is at least heartening that the 2009 reviewed programme for government renewed and indeed strengthened its commitment to organic.

Post budget, it was announced that all the organic cash was coming back: grant aid and both the in-conversion and area-based payments are being reintroduced at the previous levels.

And, happy new year folks: the Organic Farming Scheme returns tomorrow. Subject to new organic farmers completing a training course and business plan, they can apply from tomorrow on.

It cannot have been easy for the Minister with responsibility for organic farming, Trevor Sargent, to achieve this in the worst economic meltdown the country has even seen.

I genuinely do not think that the organic movement knows how blessed it is to have a supportive, hard working and, yes even visionary Minister at the helm: how would organic have fared in budgetary cutbacks if a journeyman with no real commitment to the sector was in there instead?

The biggest single remaining block to growth now is the issue regarding REPS 2 and REPS 3 farmers not actually being allowed convert to organic: some 30,000 don't even have the option, unless they pull out of REPS and return their payments.

Here's hoping that this crucial barrier is lifted in the New Year.

multiple retailers and the request for a 40% reduction in price from organic producers

Understanding the balance and flow of power is crucial to understanding what people say, what they don't say and what they imply.

Below is the original version of what appeared in the Irish Examiner yesterday, Thursday 28th May.

It was reported various places that multiple retailers are set to ask for a 40% price reduction from their suppliers of organic produce.

I have spoken to numerous well positioned people involved in production, distribution, processing and retailing of organic produce since then, and it seems the reality is more complex than was first reported.

The particular producer featured in the story on the 40% price reduction is uncertain at present whether the retailers were directly asking for a reduction. However he did receive strong signals that this was coming downstream.

Others, when queried, told me that there they have not been asked for this reduction directly.

According to Glenisk, �We have not had any 'demands' from retailers and we're on good terms with them all. Pricing is obviously a challenge right now; we're focused on the broader issue of value for money. For example, we're running 50% extra free promotions on all of our 4 packs and that has been very well received by consumers.�

Glenisk also claim that this cost will not be passed onto the farmer: �No, it's our cost. We find that consumers appreciate the extra value and consequently that has a positive effect on sales.�

Supermarket sources also told me, when queried, that they were not directly asking for a 40% reduction.

This raises interesting and important questions about whether producers, consumers or those in between - the retailers, processors, distributors - have the most power when it comes to the organic sector.

Whatever about direct requests for price reductions, the market share multiple retailers command defines the terrain within which their suppliers � Irish farmers - operate.

In mainland Europe, nowhere has the same level of multiple retailer penetration as do Ireland and the UK. Simply put; there are other routes to market, so those who supply into the agri-food system have options. They have more power.

So when Tescos announce a more international sourcing policy for Irish stores, or a change in store layout, Irish producers can start to feel the pressure.

While Tescos claim to send over 600 million euro of Irish product abroad annually, it is also the case that Irish agri-food companies have many more options when supplying the mainland EU market. This is clear from, for example, the various routes to market in European countries the Good Herdsman achieved at BioFach this year.

At the end of the day, does it actually matter if a supermarket directly asks a for a price reduction, if all the signals and pressure are pointing that way for sooner rather than later?

Will processors who supply supermarkets make price-reduction predictions and pass these on to producers? Or will they behave opportunistically?

Some of the facts of the retail situation for organic farmers at the moment make for stark reading.

While organic is sold through other routes, sometimes in a very high profile manner, it is still the case that the majority of organic produce is still sold through the multiple retailers: up to 85% according to Bord Bia.

Organic farmers make up about 1% of farmers. There are often hardly any alternative options for sourcing feed or processing units.

In general, consumers are cutting back. This can have unintended positive consequences � some consumers eat out less and eat organic food at home more, and still save money.

Organic is not due to suffer to the same extent as other areas, according to recent research into Irish consumer motivations. However, consumers cutting back by 1/3, as the research suggests, will inevitably have some negative consequences.

So we have a small number of producers, with few input or processing options and one main channel to an under pressure market. This main channel has enormous overall clout in the agri-food sector.

Along with this, there is a new version of an old issue: the Northern situation. It is to this we turn next posting.

Good Herdsman secure contracts for Irish organic beef in Germany

Good Herdsmen, Ireland�s largest dedicated organic meat processor, recently secured sales of � milion Euro at the BioFach organic trade fair in Germany.

Three of the four new companies new customers are mainly in the Eurozone, thereby accessing vital new, non-sterling markets.

Dennree, a German wholesaler who supply 1500 natural food shops are the major coup for the Cahir based company.

The retail market in Germany differs from that of Ireland or the UK: natural food stores, which are more like wholefood delis than Irish health food shops, are quite prominent. Global supermarket chains are less dominant than in Ireland. Dennree also supply Austria and northern Italy.

In Denmark, Calu, who supply the niche sections of mainstream supermarkets will be taking Irish meat products from Good Herdsman.

Both Denmark and Germany have very strong organic sectors (Denmark was named organic country of the year at Biofach this year) and neither are suffering from the recession to the same extent as Ireland.

In Holland, an organic supermarket chain called Ecoplaza, while in France, an internet company called Vitafris are the new customers.

A combination of an innovative new style of packaging and premium cuts from a country with a clean green image seems to have been the winner for Good Herdsman at BioFach.

�We had more competitors taking pictures than customers� according to Josef Finke of the Good Herdsman. �The packaging and presentation went down very well.�

Good Herdsman have developed a new style of packaging which allows for their own retail packs to be made in Ireland and exported. This too is better for the Irish economy: previously Good Herdsman's meat was exported to be cut and packaged on the Continent.

With production, slaughter, processing and packaging done in Ireland, more mark up revenue is retained in Ireland.

Initially matured for 21 days, the new skin or film packaging Good Herdsman have developed allows for further maturing of the meat in the pack. �The meat is on a tray and has a film put around it in a way which prevents any air from getting in between� Finke tells me. �This allows for an extra 21 days of shelf life�.

The tray for the packaging is compostable, while the film is biodegradable: �a retail product on the continental market needs this level now�. They are also looking into making the tray biodegradable in the near future.

Stylistically, as well as visible meat, the packaging has a very striking black and white image of Ireland, which allows it to stand out from the multi coloured crowd. This packaging also allows for fixed weights to be sold, which internet sellers in particular are attracted to.

The new range is called Organic Steakhouse. �This we feel has the right associations. Steakhouses are known for good quality steaks at an affordable price. Also the word 'steakhouse' can be read and easily understood in many languages.�

According to Finke, along with Ireland's clean green image, and of course the economic situation, Irish cattle breeds proved to be of interest to these new customers:

�Breed actually came second after price� he tells me. �They loved the fact that the traditional breeds, Herefords and Angus, are used as mothers, with the Continental bull on top�.

Four beef and two lamb cuts have been introduced into these new markets. In lamb noisettes and leg steaks, while in beef striplion, sirlion, ribeye, and minute steak are being supplied.

I spoke to a farmer recently who visited a farm shop near Munich during BioFach. He found that, despite food in general being cheaper in Germany than Ireland, conventional Charolais beef from the farm was achieving 50E per kilo at the farm shop.

I put it to Josef Finke that the price the German consumer is willing to pay for quality organic beef should benefit Irish farmers:

�We managed to get the prices in Germany, France and Denmark that we need. This means that we do not have to put as much pressure on the other end: we want to try maintain the farmer's price. This strategy may or may not work, but so far looking good.�

New organic certifier announced for Ireland: IMO

Earlier this month, the Institute of Marketecology (IMO) were approved to operate in Ireland as a new organic certification body.

IMO are a large globally recognised certification body, for whom organic is just one area.

This again brings to three the number of organic certification bodies in Ireland: until quite recently, the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association (IOFGA) and Organic Trust were accompanied by Demeter Standards, the certification branch of the Biodynamic Association of Ireland.

IMO has been active in the field of organic certification for more than 20 years. Their world-wide activities are accredited by the Swiss Accreditation Service (SAS).

Thus far, IMO have had a presence in Ireland through certification of aquaculture products as organic to the private German-based Naturland standard. Irish Companies such as Atlantic Fare list Naturland amongst their certification bodies.

According to Minister for Food Trevor Sargent TD, who announced the arrival of IMO as a certification body, �With the inclusion of aquaculture within the scope of the new Organic Regulation from 1 January 2009, there should be opportunities to expand the organic aquaculture sector and IMO�s approval is therefore timely.�

The issues facing the seafood sector have been outlined elsewhere in this edition, and indeed in last weeks. This boost for the organic aquaculture industry in Ireland is noteworthy, especially as this particular sector does indeed seem poised for action.

Take for example the attendees at the upcoming BioFach event, Europe�s largest organic trade show. Each year, over 2500 exhibitors and 45,000 visitors attend the show in Germany.

Historically, Ireland�s representation at BioFach has been very poor. While the exception has actually been the seafood sector, this year, their presence has increased.

At the upcoming exhibition in February, the vast majority of the 20�odd Irish attendees registered thus far are seafood related, from seafood companies such as Irish Seaspray to suppliers of feed to the sector.

While they have a strong base in seafood, IMO�s potential expansion beyond aquaculture would make for interesting times for the other certification bodies in Ireland. IMO claims to have representatives in over 30 countries and activities in over 90 countries.

Their global clients include US-based Whole Foods and Dr. Bonner. Their relationship with Wholefoods led to the Whole Trade Guarantee program, which includes both social justice and environmental dimensions.

This reflects trends at the global organic movement level, through the activities and statements of organisations like IFOAM, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, who are the umbrella group for organic organisations across the world.

On the ground, however, organic certification bodies are constrained by their resources and remit.

Many in indigenous organic organisations feel frustrated that they are essentially doing the state�s work - certification � rather than any of the other myriad areas for which they have little time. These include educational, promotional, representational, supportive, advocatory or advisory.

It is also unclear what the consumer will make of another certification body. At present in Ireland, recognition of the two Irish-based certification logos is very low � lower than that of the UK�s Soil Association logo in fact.

According to the research, for the Irish consumer, the word organic is �the logo�. Soon, the consumer will have yet another logo to decipher, the mandatory EU logo, which is currently being redrawn.

It is also of course the case that arrival of another certification body will be hailed as welcome competition. This may be so.

However, there has been competition between IOFGA and the Organic Trust for many years. All the while, this competition was accompanied by calls for one organic organisation, as well as calls for the organisations to work more closely together.

Just how a pan-global organisation will adapt to the nuances and peculiarities of the Irish situation remains to be seen. They can of course point to expertise in this area, having representatives in so many countries.

And with the UK�s Soil Association possibly sounding out its own arrival into the Irish organic certification scene, those considering the organic option may soon have a veritable a la carte menu to choose from.

scale, trade, organics and north Clare: BioFach and burrenLIFE

February can be a quiet month. However, there are two noteworthy events on this February, and they suit organic farmers and food producers at opposite ends of the spectrum.

The first is called BioFach. This is the largest traveling organic trade fair in the world. It is held in various locations all over the world each year: Europe gets its turn in Nuremburg on 21-24^th February. If the previous year�s attendees, and the rate at which the event is growing are anything to go by, then this event will be well worth attending for the bigger players in the organic sector.

Last year BioFach attracted over 45,000 trade visitors and over 2,500 exhibitors. This was an increase in trade visitors of 22%. The satisfaction rates were also extraordinarily high, with over 90% finding that they met their key target clients, experienced follow up business and made new business connections.

Natural health, cosmetic, kitchen and varying types of animal products complement the organic food-related products, the latter of which dominates proceedings.

The categories of attendees is also revealing: it tells as much about the differences in organic markets on mainland Europe as in the UK and Ireland. However, in terms of opening up EU markets, this information is also useful for those in the organic sector here. The four biggest categories of visitor received by exhibitors were from the specialised retail trade (excluding supermarkets), food manufacture, agriculture and the wholesale trade i.e. import and export. Natural products, supermarkets, wine and other categores were below this. Interestingly, farm shops ranked as high as supermarkets, which says a lot about how developed the farm shop system is in mainland Europe.

As regards visitors� express interests, they ranked as follows: fruit and vegetables, organic agriculture and marketing, meat, dairy and eggs, other food and then natural products (i.e.non food products). That actual straightforward food - fruit and veg, meat, milk and eggs, organic agriculture and other food - all ranked so highly suggests that there is a stubborn preference for underprocessed, natural foods, even amongst this elite set of organic sector trade and industry specialists.

Irish representation has been incredibly poor at BioFach. Delegates from 112 countries attended last year. For some reason, those part of or affiliated in some way to the organic fish sector have been quick of the mark, with almost no other players present as exhibitors.

The scale of some of these players is revealing as to the scale of the exhibitors at BioFach. With the exception of Geaoid Debruen�s Aran Gourmet, all other trade attendees were on a large, global and industrial scale. Bord Isciagh Mhara and the Irish Seaweed Industry Organisation were complemented by Atlantic Fair, BioAtlantis, Irish Seaspray, Celtic Sea Minerals and the like.

Celtic Sea Minerals supply the products globally to the animal feed industry, animal hygiene and environmental treatments markets. They are certified by the Organic Trust. They supply a the dairy feed market with a marine algae, high in calcium, magnesium and other minerals which acts as a rumen buffer, along with supplements for the pork and equine markets.

Irish Seaspray supply Irish seafood around the world, including France, Italy, the US and Germany. They had a turnover of �10 in 2005, employ 55 staff, and have a capacity of 700 tonnes a year. Amongst their products is an Organic Smoked Salmon, certified by IOFGA.

There seems to be very little interest in attending apart from this, from food producers, processors, promoters or others with an interest or stake in organics. They certainly have been conspicuous by their absence until now.

The other event on this February is at an altogether different end and scale of the food system. This event is a 3 day international conference organised by the BurrenLIFE project. The event will be in the Ennistymon, in the Falls Hotel from the 24th to 27th February, and will be themed around farming for conservation.

I�ll leave you with this one to ponder: which event most represents the true meaning of the word �organic� � the low impact, environmentally aware, managed farming of the BurrenLIFE project, or the globalised, industrialised but certified organic world of bioFach?

For more see: bioFach and

burrenlife