{"id":1265553,"date":"2024-04-03T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-03T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.agriland.ie\/?p=1265553"},"modified":"2024-04-03T13:23:02","modified_gmt":"2024-04-03T12:23:02","slug":"teagasc-commissions-organic-sector-producer-organisations-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lightsail.agriland.ie\/farming-news\/teagasc-commissions-organic-sector-producer-organisations-study\/","title":{"rendered":"Teagasc commissions organic sector producer organisations study"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Teagasc is currently seeking tenders from “qualified and experienced consultants” to examine the potential for more producer organisations (POs) in the organic farming sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The comprehensive feasibility study will evaluate the potential role that such groups could play in enhancing and supporting the Irish organic agricultural sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The six-month contract has an estimated value of \u20ac50,000, excluding VAT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The deadline for submission of tenders is 2:00p.m on Friday, April 19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Producer Organisations or POs consist of groups of producers or farmers which are user-owned and controlled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), a recognised producer organisation may \u2013 subject to certain conditions \u2013 negotiate on behalf of its members to better their position in the supply chain, including negotiating price with retailers collectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The department said that this should enable more price transparency and open up opportunities for greater collaborative working with customers to unlock value for the benefit of all those involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

POs can legally take form as co-operatives, associations, or private companies in which agricultural producers are the main shareholders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Producer organisations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In January, the Irish Organic Milk Suppliers Co-op<\/a> (IOMS) was granted recognition as a producer organisation (PO) by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The move by DAFM will result in IOMS becoming the first dairy producer organisation in the country<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are currently an estimated 70 to 80 dairy farms operating as organic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organic milk currently represents around 1% of the total milk pool from Ireland but some producers have repeatedly expressed concerns over the viability of the sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cost inflation and static milk prices have led to growing frustration among producers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Irish Organic Milk Suppliers Co-op (IOMS) was formed last year when a large group of Ireland\u2019s organic dairy farmers came together to address issues which they had identified in the sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organisation claims that it represents the majority of Ireland\u2019s organic dairy farmers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are currently over 5,000 farmers who are fully organic or in conversion in Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An additional 1,050 farmers joined Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) this year meaning the land area farmed organically will now be approximately 225,000ha (5%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ireland\u2019s Climate Action Plan has set a target of 10% of the country\u2019s land area being farmed organically by 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n