18/02/2026
There’s a lot happening in irish food right now. a lot of headlines, outrage and “surprise”. but for many of us farming on the ground… it’s not surprising at all. the conversation raised by talamh beo ( excellent read) 👌 is shining a light on what small farmers and producers have felt for years that our food system has been built to serve scale, exports and large supply chains, not local communities, not independent producers, and not the people producing real food.
We’re deep in the work of supporting a local processing project not as a “business idea”, out of necessity because if ireland wants real transparency, traceability, animal welfare and trust in food, farmers need access to local processing that actually works. this project isn’t just about us. it’s being driven by a co-op of farmers, working together with local abbatoirs and butchers to create a multi-species processing facility for the south east something that can strengthen local supply chains and keep more value in rural communities.
We’re proud to be part of the bio region south east, and proud to see a real movement growing across ireland this year with events, talks, meetings, protests and communities coming together to shape the future of irish food.
Small-scale farmers and producers are fighting back, and pushing for a food system that is fair, honest and local. but here’s the hard reality: while ireland talks about sustainability and resilience, small producers are being stifled by regulation, delays and massive barriers that feel designed for big export models, not farmer-led local solutions.
We are not against standards, we want standards. but why does it feel easier to import food than to build local processing that serves irish farmers and irish families?
if we want a healthier ireland, better school meals, and a food system people can trust, then we need more than slogans. we need the structures to change because local food systems aren’t a luxury. they’re the future.
