OBLIG

Organic Beef and Lamb Innovation Group

The Organic Beef and Lamb Innovation Group (OBLIG) is a five-year project to transform Ireland's organic lamb and beef sector by addressing critical supply chain challenges that currently limit its growth potential and sustainability.

With national targets aiming to increase organic lamb output from 500MT to 3,000MT and organic beef from 12,000 to 35,000 head by 2030, there is an urgent need to resolve systemic supply chain issues that threaten the sector's long-term viability. 

This initiative is designed to improve market access, strengthen collaboration across the supply chain, and enhance overall economic and environmental sustainability for organic producers.

The organic beef and lamb sector faces several critical challenges that have stifled its development. A major issue is the high leakage rate, with 70% of organic lamb being sold as conventional in 2023, significantly reducing the value of organic production and limiting the market potential for farmers. 

This problem is compounded by a geographic mismatch between production and finishing regions, with a concentration of organic livestock production in the West and limited finishing capacity in key locations. 

In the West there is a lot of hill lamb produced, which are lighter animals that require finishing. This disconnection results in increased transport costs, logistical inefficiencies, and a fragmented supply chain. 

Seasonality is another major challenge, as inconsistent supply throughout the year creates barriers for processors and retailers who require a steady flow of organic products to meet consumer demand. 

Poor coordination among producers, finishers and processors exacerbates inefficiencies, while a lack of structured communication networks leaves many farmers isolated, limiting knowledge sharing opportunities and reducing collective bargaining power. 

Without strategic interventions, these challenges will continue to undermine the viability and profitability of the sector.

To address these issues, the project is structured around five core objectives

1. The first objective is to reduce leakage by implementing solutions that ensure organic livestock remains within the organic supply chain, maximising the financial return for organic farmers and reinforcing the sector’s credibility.
2. The second objective is to improve supply chain coordination by fostering stronger communication and collaboration among key stakeholders, including marts, processors, and retailers. Enhancing coordination will ensure a smoother flow of livestock through the supply chain, reducing inefficiencies, and increasing market predictability.
3. The third objective focuses on enhancing producer collaboration and support, facilitating the formation of structured farmer networks and providing training to reduce isolation while strengthening industry knowledge.
4. The fourth objective aims to address distribution challenges by identifying and implementing solutions to logistical bottlenecks, improving transport efficiencies, and reducing costs for producers and processors alike.
5. Finally, the fifth objective is to strengthen market linkages by creating direct connections between producers, marts, processors, retailers, and food service operators, ensuring that production aligns with market demand and enhancing opportunities for value-added products.

This Project is managed and led by ifac (Irish Farmer Accountants Co-operative) in conjunction with Teagasc, Leitrim Organic Farmers Co-op and the National Organic Training Skillnets. 

Declan Pine is the Project Co-Ordinator in the West of the Country and can be contacted directly at west@oblig.ie and Julian Pawlowski in the Project Co-ordinator in the East, Julian can be contacted directly at east@oblig.ie. 

Declan and Julian bring a wealth of on the ground and Organic experience to the project. For additional project information and upcoming information dates go to www.oblig.ie