The EU’s action plan for organic farming aims to achieve 25% of EU agricultural land under organic production by 2030.
In 2020, Ireland was tied with Malta as the EU member states with the lowest proportion of land under organic (2%).
That situation has changed significantly thanks to an increase in the number of farmers in the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS).
The organic land area now stands at 5.5% and the target is 10% by 2030. For context, the average proportion of land under organic in the EU was 10.4% in 2022.
Boosting consumer demand for organic products is an important part of the EU’s action plan for organics and Ireland has invested significantly in the organic sector in recent years.
As part of this investment, Bord Bia is focused on promoting Irish organics to both trade customers and consumers to increase market demand in high potential markets.
Two years ago, Bord Bia was awarded funding from the EU to promote organic beef and sheepmeat across four EU markets: Austria, Sweden, Germany and Belgium.
Germany and Belgium are the largest EU export markets for Irish organic beef and lamb.
Approximately 15% of organic Irish beef and 25% of organic Irish lamb are destined for Germany, while nearly one quarter of organic Irish lamb is exported to Belgium.
Austria and Sweden have thriving organics markets and Bord Bia research conducted in 2024 identified all four markets as offering opportunities for growth (see further information below).
Pasture raised in Ireland
Bord Bia is halfway through the 'EU Organic Beef and Lamb, Pasture Raised in Ireland' campaign, which started in June 2024.
During the three-year campaign, €2.7m (80% co-funded by the EU) will be invested across Germany, Belgium, Sweden and Austria until June 2027.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of the positive attributes of pasture-raised organic beef and lamb from Ireland.
The campaign emphasises Ireland’s pasture and outdoor farming credentials, which are a key differentiator against our export market competitors.
This is the first EU co-funded campaign for organic beef and lamb and comes at a pivotal time for the sector, as we look to increase market demand at home and in key export markets.
A challenge for the sector is the comparatively low supply. However, by boosting market demand, the aim is to help maximise organic production.
Research
In 2024, Bord Bia carried out extensive research in Europe to better understand where the organic category is going and the opportunities and challenges for future exports.
A deep dive was conducted for seven markets including Germany, Belgium, Austria and Sweden.
According to the research, 68% of all organic shoppers across the seven markets would purchase Irish organic food and drink.
One challenge with the organic buyers in these target countries is the preference to source from local suppliers, which makes sense given the ethos of organic food systems.
However, of those who had this opinion, when asked if local organic beef or lamb was not available, Ireland was their country of choice.
Autumn schedule 2025 - EU organic beef and lamb campaign
September
Bord Bia hosted five chefs and three trade journalists from Germany and Austria. The groups visited an organic beef and sheep farm and a processor to learn more about our organic farming system.
October
Bord Bia hosted a trade reception in Cologne, Germany, attended by German buyers, where organic Irish beef and lamb was served. The event was held during the Anuga trade fair, which attracts 140,000 global food and drink buyers.
In Belgium, Bord Bia hosted an organic beef and lamb dinner for trade media where guests were educated about Irish organic production.
November
Bord Bia exhibited at the Nordic Organic Food Fair in Malmö, Sweden, with an information stand about organic beef and lamb featuring celebrity chef Claus Holm. The two-day trade show attracts organic buyers from across the Nordic region.
Bord Bia also hosted an organic meat academy event in Malmo with buyers, chefs and trade media in attendance.
In Paris, Bord Bia exhibited at the Natexpo trade show, which attracts buyers from France and Belgium, as well as from the Netherlands and Italy.
Finally, Bord Bia participated in the 20th German meat congress (Fleischkongress), held in Mainz, where we spoke about Ireland’s organic beef production.
Feedback from Irish organic exporters
The Organic Meat Academy in Malmö was a fantastic opportunity for us to connect with Nordic buyers and showcase the premium quality of Irish organic beef and lamb. These events give us a chance to tell the story behind our pasture-based production system and strengthen relationships with both new and existing customers in a market that values sustainability and animal welfare.
Daniel O’Dwyer, country sales manager, Dawn Meats
The ‘Pasture Raised in Ireland’ campaign provides an excellent platform to showcase the quality and integrity of Irish organic beef and lamb to key trade customers and consumers in Europe. Along with Bord Bia, we are dedicated to expanding markets for Irish organic beef and lamb, while supporting farmers nationwide in exploring the opportunities that organic farming can bring to both organic and conventional systems.
John Purcell, managing director, Good Herdsmen
Irish organic beef and sheep snapshot
Over 5,500 Irish farmers in the OFS.There are 2,750 organic beef farms and 1,750 organic sheep farms in Ireland. Nearly 90% of new entrants are livestock farmers. Approximately 10,000 organic cattle and 15,000 organic sheep were processed in 2024.
The EU’s action plan for organic farming aims to achieve 25% of EU agricultural land under organic production by 2030.
In 2020, Ireland was tied with Malta as the EU member states with the lowest proportion of land under organic (2%).
That situation has changed significantly thanks to an increase in the number of farmers in the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS).
The organic land area now stands at 5.5% and the target is 10% by 2030. For context, the average proportion of land under organic in the EU was 10.4% in 2022.
Boosting consumer demand for organic products is an important part of the EU’s action plan for organics and Ireland has invested significantly in the organic sector in recent years.
As part of this investment, Bord Bia is focused on promoting Irish organics to both trade customers and consumers to increase market demand in high potential markets.
Two years ago, Bord Bia was awarded funding from the EU to promote organic beef and sheepmeat across four EU markets: Austria, Sweden, Germany and Belgium.
Germany and Belgium are the largest EU export markets for Irish organic beef and lamb.
Approximately 15% of organic Irish beef and 25% of organic Irish lamb are destined for Germany, while nearly one quarter of organic Irish lamb is exported to Belgium.
Austria and Sweden have thriving organics markets and Bord Bia research conducted in 2024 identified all four markets as offering opportunities for growth (see further information below).
Pasture raised in Ireland
Bord Bia is halfway through the 'EU Organic Beef and Lamb, Pasture Raised in Ireland' campaign, which started in June 2024.
During the three-year campaign, €2.7m (80% co-funded by the EU) will be invested across Germany, Belgium, Sweden and Austria until June 2027.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of the positive attributes of pasture-raised organic beef and lamb from Ireland.
The campaign emphasises Ireland’s pasture and outdoor farming credentials, which are a key differentiator against our export market competitors.
This is the first EU co-funded campaign for organic beef and lamb and comes at a pivotal time for the sector, as we look to increase market demand at home and in key export markets.
A challenge for the sector is the comparatively low supply. However, by boosting market demand, the aim is to help maximise organic production.
Research
In 2024, Bord Bia carried out extensive research in Europe to better understand where the organic category is going and the opportunities and challenges for future exports.
A deep dive was conducted for seven markets including Germany, Belgium, Austria and Sweden.
According to the research, 68% of all organic shoppers across the seven markets would purchase Irish organic food and drink.
One challenge with the organic buyers in these target countries is the preference to source from local suppliers, which makes sense given the ethos of organic food systems.
However, of those who had this opinion, when asked if local organic beef or lamb was not available, Ireland was their country of choice.
Autumn schedule 2025 - EU organic beef and lamb campaign
September
Bord Bia hosted five chefs and three trade journalists from Germany and Austria. The groups visited an organic beef and sheep farm and a processor to learn more about our organic farming system.
October
Bord Bia hosted a trade reception in Cologne, Germany, attended by German buyers, where organic Irish beef and lamb was served. The event was held during the Anuga trade fair, which attracts 140,000 global food and drink buyers.
In Belgium, Bord Bia hosted an organic beef and lamb dinner for trade media where guests were educated about Irish organic production.
November
Bord Bia exhibited at the Nordic Organic Food Fair in Malmö, Sweden, with an information stand about organic beef and lamb featuring celebrity chef Claus Holm. The two-day trade show attracts organic buyers from across the Nordic region.
Bord Bia also hosted an organic meat academy event in Malmo with buyers, chefs and trade media in attendance.
In Paris, Bord Bia exhibited at the Natexpo trade show, which attracts buyers from France and Belgium, as well as from the Netherlands and Italy.
Finally, Bord Bia participated in the 20th German meat congress (Fleischkongress), held in Mainz, where we spoke about Ireland’s organic beef production.
Feedback from Irish organic exporters
The Organic Meat Academy in Malmö was a fantastic opportunity for us to connect with Nordic buyers and showcase the premium quality of Irish organic beef and lamb. These events give us a chance to tell the story behind our pasture-based production system and strengthen relationships with both new and existing customers in a market that values sustainability and animal welfare.
Daniel O’Dwyer, country sales manager, Dawn Meats
The ‘Pasture Raised in Ireland’ campaign provides an excellent platform to showcase the quality and integrity of Irish organic beef and lamb to key trade customers and consumers in Europe. Along with Bord Bia, we are dedicated to expanding markets for Irish organic beef and lamb, while supporting farmers nationwide in exploring the opportunities that organic farming can bring to both organic and conventional systems.
John Purcell, managing director, Good Herdsmen
Irish organic beef and sheep snapshot
Over 5,500 Irish farmers in the OFS.There are 2,750 organic beef farms and 1,750 organic sheep farms in Ireland. Nearly 90% of new entrants are livestock farmers. Approximately 10,000 organic cattle and 15,000 organic sheep were processed in 2024. 
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