ABFI says drinks industry and farming can benefit from each other

ABFI has said the drinks industry and farming are dependent on each other

Public Health Alcohol Bill will limit growth and means Irish farmers will be banned from alcohol ads, group says

Print

Print

News

Read More: ABFI

In its submission to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine on the diversification of the tillage sector in Ireland, representatives of the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland (ABFI) told the committee, that the drinks industry purchases approximately 10% of Ireland’s annual tillage harvest.

The vast majority of Irish breweries and distilleries source their barley and malt locally, the group said, purchasing over 200,000 tonnes of barley every year. The Irish Whiskey and Spirits sector is enjoying an ongoing resurgence, with global sales of Ireland’s two main spirits: Irish whiskey and Irish cream liquor – totalling nearly 16 million cases in 2016 and were worth nearly €4 billion in sales value.

“The Drinks industry has achieved robust export growth which is directly benefitting Irish farmers,” said Patricia Callan, director of the ABFI. “Irish breweries and distilleries are proud to work with a wide range of Irish agricultural suppliers to source malted barley, unmalted grains as well as fresh Irish cream used in Irish cream liquors and apples used in cider.

“Increasing export growth will lead to increased demand for Irish agricultural raw materials,” she continued, “and the commitments being made by Irish drinks producers under Bord Bia’s Origin Green scheme mean more agricultural raw materials will be sourced locally. Growth in the Irish drink industry will deliver for Ireland’s farmers.”

The Committee also heard about the Public Health Alcohol Bill and how this significant threat may impact the drinks industry and in turn the agricultural sector.

Patricia Callan said that growth should not be taken for granted.

“The proposals contained in the Government’s Public Health Alcohol Bill will undermine competition, innovation and investment in the Irish drinks industry,” Callan said. “The bill will also greatly limit the capacity of the industry to deliver on the Government’s FoodWise 2025 targets which otherwise we would greatly exceed.”

Read More: ABFI

Related Articles

Gin is in the pink with latest ABFI report →

Drinks industry meets with EU taskforce on Brexit priorities →