Full coverage: Agriculture

The Belfast-based livestock nutrition company is investing massively in its new global research and development centre in Co Meath, where it hopes to produce carbon-neutral beef and dairy by 2025. But the lenders behind a €118m refinancing package are keeping a close watch as its existing business faces the challenges of Brexit and Covid-19. To provide guarantees, Owen Brennan’s group has been reorganising.

Officials have warned the new minister for agriculture of rising tuberculosis infections in Irish herds, despite scientific progress and increased spending. The reason? Too many cows.

Live streams, smartphone bids and USB gavels became features of livestock sales as soon as the Covid-19 lockdown closed marts to the public. Technology providers are vying for this business, which appears to be here to stay.

The majority of policies agreed by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party to achieve the transition towards a greener economy were already known from previous commitments or set in EU legislation. Yet a new level of ambition is emerging, with concrete actions most clearly spelled out in transport – and a lot left to be teased out in agriculture.

The head of global agribusiness Alltech finds himself hosting the first virtual edition of his company’s popular annual industry conference. He discusses how food production can navigate “the next normal”, and why his $3 billion firm remains private even as it enters new areas of digital technology and medicine.

Butter prices are down, farmers are getting less for their milk and cheese stocks are going into cold stores. But unlike other sectors, Ireland’s dairy industry is working as one and its businesses entered the crisis with strong balance sheets.

As Ireland haggles about greenhouse gas targets, New Zealand implements new climate legislation accommodating its livestock industry – one of many common interests with Ireland. Brad Burgess, the first Kiwi ambassador to Dublin, discusses growing business links and hopes of a trade deal.

Self Help Africa has secured a new multi-million EU contract to inject capital into private enterprises in the Zambian food value chain. Although most African agribusiness remains far from bankable, the organisation sees its role as “priming the pump”.

As Supermac’s joins McDonald’s in shutting up shop for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic, Ireland’s beef industry is losing two major customers. But the real worry comes from expensive cuts piling up in cold stores.

Stricter environmental auditing requirements are coming, and the next government should help business get ready to turn Ireland into a climate technology leader, says the Green Party’s leader – but he sees no need to reform planning laws to facilitate this.