A quality standard regulated by the EU Commission (710/2009): -Respect of nature and biodiversity -Responsible sourcing of seed from sustainable stock -Sustainable environmental and waste management. Organic mussels from Ireland: Key points By working with local communities & wildlife groups organic mussel producers are constantly improving their commitment to the environment.

1. Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
AIDAN COTTER
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
BORD BIA
28 JANUARY 2009
Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
Organic Mussels from Ireland.

2. Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
Source BIM
Bottom;
9173
Rope;
5717
2013 Mussel production
Ireland, 14 900 T
Source FAO 2011
Over 50% of Irish mussels are
certified organic.
France
35%
Denmark
18%
Netherlands
17%
Germany
11%
United
Kingdom
9%
Ireland
8%
Other
(scandanavia..)
2%
EU production edulis 190KT (FAO 2011)

3. Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
A quality standard regulated by the EU Commission (710/2009):
Respect of nature and biodiversity
Responsible sourcing of seed from sustainable stock
Sustainable environmental and waste management.
Organic mussels from Ireland: Key points
By working with local communities & wildlife
groups organic mussel producers are
constantly improving their commitment to the
environment.

4. Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
A quality standard regulated by the EU Commission:
A sustainable management plan following the principles of organic production.
•Appropriate waste management planning (Waste reduction, and recycling with the
objective of eliminating non-recyclable materials).
•Responsible sourcing of seed from sustainable stock.
•Respect for nature and biodiversity; awareness of protected areas.
•Removal of bio-fouling only by hand or physical means
•Energy conservation and the objective of using a renewable energy provider.
•Visual, noise and odour impact reduction. All floats are grey to minimise visual impact
apart from those necessary for navigational purposes.
Organic mussels from Ireland: Quality standard
commitments

5. Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
Ireland has designated 423 Sites of Community Importance, with a total area of 13,553
km², totalling 10.7% of the country’s terrestrial area. There are 96 sites with a marine
part; the marine SCI area totals 6010 km².
http://biodiversity.europa.eu/search?q=natura+2000
Respect for nature and biodiversity

6. Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
 Rich in proteins with a low calorie count, mussels form an essential part of
a healthy diet.
Mussels are rich in the 5 selective minerals for the development and function
of the brain and central nervous system: iron, zinc, copper, iodine, and
selenium.
Rich in unsaturuated omega 3 fatty acids, known for their benefits of the
cardiovascular system.
Mussels are a rich source of vitamins such as B1, B2, B12 and vitamin E. They
have good anti oxidation properties.
Organic mussels from Ireland: High nutritional value.

7. Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
Organic mussels from Ireland: High nutritional value.
Source FAO
The 5 « brain selective minerals1 »: iodine, selenium,
iron, zinc, copper.
1. Essential for human brain development.

8. Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
Source: Biofach 2014
The European organic food market

9. Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
Pastureland
Ireland Europe
80% 40%
Natural advantages : Preserved Environment

10. Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
Origin Green- little heavy industry

11. Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
2012 National Residue Plan Results Released by the Department of
Agriculture, Food and the Marine (released August 2013)
The NRCP, which was approved by the European Commission, is an important
component of the Department’s food safety controls and is implemented under a
service contract with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
With over 20,000 samples tested in 2012, the results show a continuation of the
trend over a number of years of a general absence of residues in Irish food
products.
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/press/pressreleases/2013/august/title,71355,en.html
Little heavy industry:
Low level of environmental contaminants.

12. Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
Organic mussels from Ireland:
Low level of environmental contaminants.
6. CONCLUSIONS
This study has demonstrated that levels of dioxins, furans and PCBs (both DL-PCBs and the
indicator PCBs 28, 52, 101, 138, 153, and 180) in Irish fish, farmed mussels and prawns are well
below the relevant legislative limits for these contaminants. The results of the study are in line with
those from previous FSAI studies on dioxin levels in fish and also studies on meat, milk, and eggs, and
confirm that dioxin levels in these foods are relatively low compared with data for similar
products from more industrialised countries in the European Union.

13. Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
http://www.fsai.ie//enforcement_audit/monitoring/shellfish.html

14. Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
http://www.marine.ie

15. Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGvKoz8FP5o
www.origingreen.ie

16. Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
www.origingreen.ie GHG Emissions EU Dairy
Source: EU JRC Evaluation of the livestock sector's contribution to the EU
greenhouse gas emissions (GGELS)
GHG Emissions EU Beef

17. Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
Agriculture uses 70% of the world’s
freshwater
46
24 24 21 20 16
8 8 2 1
00
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Ireland has a very favourable water stress index
(% of territory under water stress)
Source: Yale University

18. Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
Decide on
Target Areas
Agree Baseline
Period
Set Timelines
& Targets
Annual
Progress Report
Independent
SGS
Verification

19. Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
Areas covered by plans........
Raw material sourcing: at least 1 target:
Suppliers with recognised certifications - Develop sustainability initiatives with suppliers - Engage on areas such as welfare &
biodiversity.
Manufacturing processes: at least 2 targets
Social Sustainability: at least 1 target
Health & Nutrition, Community Initiatives, Employee wellbeing

20. Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
20
COMPANY RECRUITMENT PIPELINE
310 Companies Registered
205 companies at workshop/plan
development phase
100 plans submitted
Over 85% of exports

21. Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
Ireland 50%+ organic
Low environmental impact
Superfood nutrional value
Food safety
Preserved environment
Sustainablility charter
Origin Green
Summary

22. Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
AIDAN COTTER
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
BORD BIA
28 JANUARY 2009
Growing the success of Irish food & horticulture
Thankyou.