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A Bord Bia funding application to the European Commission to promote suckler beef has been unsuccessful.
It is now looking into securing internal funding in Ireland to develop specific information and promotional activities for Irish suckler beef, the Irish Farmers Journal can reveal.
“We are also in discussions with industry stakeholders and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regards to developing a suckler beef offer,” Declan Fennell, Bord Bia sector manager of meat, sheepmeat and sustainability development, said.
He told the Irish Farmers Journal a total of 13 applications were submitted to the EU for a €8m fund of which the EU suckler beef application was €2.9m.
We believe a strong case was presented and we will continue to pursue EU co-funding promotional opportunities
“The Commission approved a total of five projects, eight proposals were unsuccessful.
“Bord Bia had invested in bespoke market research which clearly identified a market opportunity and similarly stressed the economic difficulties for the suckler sector, and the necessity to undertake a promotion.
“We believe a strong case was presented and we will continue to pursue EU co-funding promotional opportunities.
“In the absence of EU co-funding support for 2020, Bord Bia will revisit the application next April for the 2021-2023 call,” Fennell said.
He also said the EU co-funding programme for such campaigns for agricultural products is a competitive and open process.
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