20 minutes with Gavin Dunne, the Olive Feed Corporation

What does The Olive Feed Corporation do?

We take the leftover byproduct from olive oil production to make animal feed. This byproduct was previously considered a waste and environmental pollutant. We source it from all major olive oil producing countries all over the Mediterranean such as Greece, Spain and Morocco. We’re also in discussions with some major olive mills in Australia.

What volume of olive feed do you produce?

Over the next few months we will be busy shipping out over 20,000kg to overseas customers. By end of 2018 we expect to have shipped 20,000t.

Where did the idea for the business come from?

I first discovered olive-fed beef in the Sanuki region of Japan. I realised there was an opportunity to produce this type of feed on a commercial scale and also solve a major environmental issue in southern Europe by reusing the byproduct of olive oil production. Rarely there exists a business opportunity that has commercial potential and can also do a lot of good for the environment.

What markets are you exporting olive feed to?

We have signed deals with customers in Australia, the US and Europe. We are working directly with JAC Wagyu, an award-winning boutique Wagyu farmer, that supplies Coles Supermarkets in Australia. I travelled on the recent trade mission to Japan and South Korea led by Bord Bia and have begun talks with distributors and farmers in these markets with the aim of securing deals for 2018.

What size is the Wagyu market?

The market for Wagyu beef is a multi-billion euro market. If global production of Wagyu beef doubled it would still not meet the demand for Wagyu. Australian feedlots that have 40,000 head of Wagyu could sell their whole production to China if they chose to do so. The demand for high-quality Wagyu in China, the Middle East, Japan and the rest of Asia is huge and expanding constantly.

Where does olive-fed Wagyu sit in the overall market?

Standard Wagyu beef is a luxury product. But olive-fed Wagyu beef can sell for double the price of the regular product. Demand comes from Japan, the royal families in the Middle East and from top steakhouses in the US.

Are you selling to any Irish Wagyu producers?

Yes we are selling to two Wagyu producers in Ireland – Oliver O’Hanlon of Irish Wagyu and Joe Desmond of West Ireland Wagyu, two of the most knowledgeable Wagyu people in the country.

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