Speaking at the opening of Ireland’s organic food stand at Biofach, the World Organic Trade Fair in Nuremburg, Germany, Tom Hayes TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine highlighted the opportunities that exist for Irish Organic produce both at home and abroad.
Minister Hayes said that “There are undoubtedly opportunities for indigenous Irish companies to make inroads into these export markets, and the Irish participation at Biofach is an important step in that direction”, he added.
Eight innovative Irish seafood and food companies will be participating at the event, which takes place from 12th – 15th February. Last year, BioFach attracted close to 2,500 exhibitors and some 41,800 trade visitors from 136 countries. Minister Hayes also paid tribute to Bord Bia “who have once again done a wonderful job in organising the Irish food industry’s participation at this very important event”.
Minister Hayes concluded “I am convinced that with all the stakeholders of the industry working together, we can realise the potential that clearly exists for the Irish Organic Sector”.
Notes to Editors
BioFach 2014 – Irish Exhibitors.
A total of 8 companies will be exhibiting on the Ireland stand at this year’s BioFach event:
1. The Good Herdsmen (Beef & Lamb)
2. Murphy’s Irish Seafood
3. Kush Seafarms (Seafood)
4. Irish Seaspray (Seafood)
5. Emerald Mussels
6. Just Food
7. The Little Milk Company
8. The Irish Organic Salmon Company
Organic Sector in Germany
At the end of 2012, there were 22,932 organic production holdings in Germany farming 1,034,355 hectares of land organically in accordance with the EU legislation governing organic farming. They account for 7.7 % of all holdings, farming around 6.5 % of the total utilised agricultural area. Organic sales are estimated at €6.2bn in 2012 and this is expected to grow to €6.6bn in 2015.