Short presentation of the Irish dairy sector and its main USP\’s

2. Irish Dairy Produce
the cream of the crop
Known around the world as the “Green Isle”, Ireland’s temperate climate and lush
pasturelands combine to create an environment perfectly suited to dairy farming.
For over three thousand years Irish farmers have refined their methods and, given a
helping hand by nature, today they maintain the highest environmental and animal
welfare standards on their farms.
Irish dairy cattle spend their time grazing on some of the country’s 3.5 million hectares
of pasture land, and thanks to the warming influence of the Gulf Stream they can do
this almost year-round.
The end result is dairy products that are high in quality, rich in flavour and sought after
in over 90 countries around the world, to which Ireland exports over €2 billion of its
dairy output annually.
Cheese
Every year Ireland exports some 180,000 tonnes of rich,
buttery and creamy cheeses, and with a long tradition of
local production, it boasts some of the finest farmhouse
cheeses around the world.
While the cheese-making process itself is very important,
the high standard of Irish milk contributes greatly to the
distinctive flavour and overall quality of the end product.
Consumers and retailers alike value Ireland’s green, eco-
friendly farming, where the dairy herds are fed primarily
on natural grass.
The Irish dairy industry compliments these natural advantages by giving
farmers access to cutting-edge research and training, and by advising them
on how to get the best out of their herd.
This careful combination of tradition and technology are proving an
exciting and successful recipe for high-quality cheese production – and a
hit on the international market.

3. Butter
For several hundred years, Irish butter has been famed around
the world for its taste and quality.
In the late 17th and early 18th centuries Ireland was the major
exporter of butter to Europe and the Americas, and the famous
English market in Cork was to butter what Amsterdam is to
tulips - the centre of trade and a byword for excellent quality.
The legacy of the Cork Butter Market lives on, and today
Ireland exports over 130,000 tonnes of butter each year to
buyers all over the world.
Like their ancestors before them, these discerning customers value the unrivalled purity,
flavour, colour and softness of Irish butter. Flavoured by every drop of rain and every
blade of green grass, it is a unique taste of Ireland.
Other products and ingredients
Many will be surprised to learn that Ireland supplies around 10% of the
world’s infant milk formula, helping to give children everywhere a
great start in life.
The country serves as a production base for three of the top
international infant formula manufacturers- Pfizer Nutrition,
Abbott Nutrition and Danone.
Irish dairy ingredients are also much sought-after in nutritional
products for all ages and categories, from sports and lifestyle
supplements to products for those with medical or age-related needs.
Dairy farming
a green industry
Ireland exports over 85% of its output to over 80 countries
around the world. Despite taking up just 2% of the
land surface of the EU it provides 4% of its milk.
Together with Austria, Ireland produces the EU’s most
environmentally friendly milk, with a carbon footprint
of 1kg CO2-EQ/kg milk.*
The unique climatic conditions mean that Irish milk
production costs are kept low, and Ireland’s grass-fed,
outdoor herd reflects a natural, wholesome production
method that strikes a chord with consumers.
*Source: European Commission report: “Evaluation of the livestock sector’s contribution to the EU greenhouse gas
emissions”, November 2010

4. Statistics
For the very latest agriculture statistics from Ireland, visit www.statcentral.ie.
Links
Bord Bia- Irish Food Board ................................................... www.bordbia.ie
Food and Drink Industry Ireland ......................................... www.fdii.ie
Teagasc- Agriculture and Food Development Authority ... www.teagasc.ie
Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association .......................... www.icmsa.ie
Cork Butter Museum ............................................................ www.corkbutter.museum
Bord Bia
Bord Bia – The Irish Food Board - is the state agency responsible for the market
development and promotion of Irish food, drink & horticulture.
Bord Bia acts as a link between Irish suppliers and existing and potential customers
throughout the world.
Our objective is to develop markets for Irish suppliers and to bring the great taste of
Irish food to more tables world-wide.
BORD BIA Contact:
Embassy of Ireland - Hovslagargatan 5 - 11148 Stockholm - Sweden Nicolas Ranninger
Tel: +46 8 54 50 40 58 Nordic Market Manager
www.twitter.com/bordbia nicolas.ranninger@bordbia.ie
www.facebook.com/bordbia
www.bordbia.ie