President Joachim Gauck of Germany and Ms Daniela Schadt accompanied by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Tom Hayes T.D., today walked the farm of James Droney in Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare, where the farmer outlined Bord Bia's Origin Green programme and how Ireland through this unique national initiative aims to be a world leader in producing food sustainably. He also explained to his guests what it means for him to be a member of Bord Bia's Beef and Lamb Quality Assurance Scheme while farming in the unique environment of the Burren.
Speaking on the farm Minister Hayes said "I would like to welcome President Gauck and Ms Schadt to Co. Clare. Germany is a very important market for our agri-food sector and the Origin Green programme is a watermark for Ireland’s sustainable food production systems. It builds on our rigorous programme of food safety and traceability measures that allow us to trace from farm to fork. I am delighted the President and Ms Schadt have come to a family farm in Ireland to see how high quality beef can be produced in an environmentally sustainable way."
James farms almost 90 hectares of mostly free-draining grassland, along with some upland pasture. He keeps 55 beef suckler cows (mostly Charolais, Limousin and Blonde d’Aquitaine) and also rears 50 young cattle to beef in addition to the 150 lambs which he rears during the summer months. Mr Droney's farm is registered with Bord Bia’s Beef and Lamb Quality Assurance Scheme, and achieved an excellent score in a recent Carbon Footprint survey as part of the Origin Green sustainability programme for Irish food.
Irish Food & Drink Exports to Germany
Germany is Ireland’s fourth largest export market for food and drink and the total estimated revenues for 2014 are €565 million, with exports reaching €133 million in first quarter of 2015. The best performing sectors are dairy, beef and prepared foods. Dairy accounts for 40% of food exports to Germany, while Irish beef is now among the top 3 beef brands in the German market. Other sectors that have a strong presence in the German market are seafood, lamb and beverages such as Irish whiskey.