All of the country’s beef farmers and 80% of dairy farmers have signed up to the scheme that assesses and reports on their farm businesses from economic, environmental and social sustainability viewpoints.
At a processing level 502 companies, representing makers of 95% of food and drink exports, had joined the voluntary scheme since the 2012 launch.
Chief executive Aidan Cotter said the scheme had the potential to differentiate Ireland’s industry from other food producers by proving they were producing food sustainably.
“It’s not enough for us to say we are a green producer – we need to prove it.
“We can go on beyond mere proof and become a world leader in sustainability,” Cotter said.
Each farm was assessed to generate a carbon footprint baseline and a report suggesting improvements as well as putting a profitability figure on the changes.
Assessors employed by the Irish Food Board, Bord Bia, visited farmers every 18 months to check on their progress and this year, for the first time, high ranking and improving farming operations were to be recognised as showcase farmers in Origin Green awards.
Processors were also assessed for sustainability and guided through a sustainability development plan targeting the sustainable sourcing of raw materials, energy use, water, waste and biodiversity along with health and safety and the wellness of their workforce and contributions made to the local community.
All the audits were independently verified and measured against international standards.
The Origin Green programme was a business to business initiative with no consumer interaction at this stage.
“It was important that we were not seen to be green-washing our products,” Cotter said.
“It’s not enough for us to say we are a green producer – we need to prove it.
Aidan Cotter
Origin Green
“Irish producer and processor groups will work with businesses who buy the products and it is obviously the right thing to do for self-belief and the confidence that we want to project to the world and will become more important over time.
“It is really about making our businesses more efficient and our buyers of products aware of the move.”
• More in New Zealand Dairy Exporter magazine, November 2016
Interns scour the world for info
Origin Green has taken on 10 graduate interns with between three and 10 years experience in a variety of fields to work with companies on three and six-month internships in overseas markets.
“Our interns have gone to Starbucks, Walmart, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, Nestle and Danone and work on sustainability projects to bring back to our programme,” Cotter said.
“The scheme has been sharing the Origin Green message, learning about best practice, creating conversations and opening doors.
“This is collaboration at an international level and the interns are appealing to the generation to whom sustainability means the most.
“It’s very compelling and has had the effect of lifting awareness of Origin Green.”
